YOUTH

The porch swing gently swayed back and forth in the summer breeze, creaking from years of use. A sunrise tinted with hues of pink and crimson lit up the sleepy sky, bringing to light the old swing and equally old house. Sitting still on the creaking swing with wondering eyes, was a woman who appeared to look even older than the house. 

Her skin was wrinkled and spotted and her short gray hair puffed in thin wisps around her face. Her eyes were faded and held such a storm of emotion, you could get lost within them if you gazed too long. Deep wrinkles were set around her mouth. It was permanently shaped into a frown from years of sorrow she had hidden away deep in her heart.

                

Back and forth the old woman slowly swung, staring up at the awakening sky. The rows of houses began to come to light. But, the woman took no notice of them; it was the road she watched with intent eyes. The sun rose over the rolling hills, thawing her chilled hands. When the color began to fade into blue the woman saw what she had been waiting for. A car was slowly swerving towards the houses, blurred laughter escaped from the open windows.

The woman watched in silence as the car stopped and a young girl stumbled out. Peals of laughter tumbled from her mouth as the car began to drive away. She sluggishly waved before coughing and falling to her knees. The woman remained motionless as the girl retched up the contents of which she had been drinking all over the pavement. But, this did not even seem to faze her drunken state. The girl was still bubbling with insane laughter as she stumbled to her feet. It was 6:47 in the morning. She was just on time.

                

It happened every morning. The old woman would come out to sit on the porch and watch as this young girl came back at 6:45 with her horrible influencing friends every day. Her escapades became worse and worse every time. The old woman swallowed down the pain that began to build up within her chest. She wished she could go and run after the girl and tell her to stop and think. But, no one ever thought today, it wasn’t in their culture. They had to “live” while they could. It was all about having the greatest time they could in their youth without thinking about the consequences that would come afterwards.

                

It was about living in the moment: filling the darkest desires of the flesh, speeding past red lights, and having one extra drink. The youth seemed to think that their adolescence must be spent breaking all the rules. They listened to the pop songs and shows that fed them with earthly desires. It would leave them scarred. But, that’s what they craved. It’s what all humans crave. We all want happiness. We all want satisfaction.

                

Standing on the edge of a thunderous cliff as the stars fall around you into the crashing, foaming waters below. It’s that feeling of heart freezing wonder and freedom we long for. If only there was a way to reach out and warn the girl of what would happen if she continued to stumble blindly down the path of darkness. It was there, ready to swallow her up.

                

Thoughts soon turn into actions and those actions define who we are and shape our future. But, the youth are blind to it. They run willingly down the path of what they call freedom. No rules. No one telling them what they must and mustn’t do. 

The woman sighed deeply, leaning back into her swing. Birds had begun to sing songs of morning glory as lights in the houses turned on. The haunting laughs of the girl still rang in the woman’s ears.

                

She closed her eyes. “Lord, please don’t let her make to same mistakes I did. Tell her to live, not just in one moment, but forever.”