“it’s been not so long since I took a plane across that sky.”

https://open.spotify.com/track/7ng14MnnR6UqnA3266eJNe?si=DvsvRJOmSSq8PYp27lV1fA

“Welcome home.”

Ah. Air reeks of pollution and despair; I kinda missed it in the weirdest way after being away for so long. I’m smiling towards the immigration officer, and as I’m pushing my luggage pass through the automatic door, I’m officially back to my old-slash-new life in Jakarta.

Call it a coping mechanism or whatever but I’m glad that my heartbreak led me to traveling the world. It was such an eye-opener, heart-healing kind of trip that I needed. And now that I’m in a place I used to call home, suddenly all of those trips fade into oblivion and I’m hollow again.

Don’t get me wrong—I’m okay, I’m completely fine.

But hollow.

These past ten years, my heart’s been stretched so wide and so deep, it’s in a capacity I never realized I could ever have. Now that the person who lived there already moved on, it felt too big for me somehow.

“Miles Segara!”

Before I could trace the source of that voice, a blurry image comes across my eyes and suddenly a petite figure has thrown herself into my arms. I laugh as I realize it was Oceanna, and Padre is smiling behind her. “Welcome back, Miles.”

“Hi, Padre.” I still hold Oceanna inside my arms while reaching for the old man. “Looking good.”

“Dia lagi obsesi lari marathon,” Oceanna says as she draws herself away from me. “So, you’re back? For good?”

“Yes. For good.”

“Okay, let’s get you settled.” Padre takes over my luggage and walks before us towards the parked car in front of the arrival gate, and I just realize that Madre is there too, waiting inside the car, smiling widely as she catches a glimpse of me.

“Wow. You guys got the whole fam down here to collect me?”

Oceanna hits my arms slightly with a grin on her face. “Of course? You are family, Miles.”

I smile back at her. Suddenly, it doesn’t feel as hollow. And they still live there, and I’m still loved.