The Epiphany

A bitter, cold breeze sweeps across my face. Rubbing both palms of my hands together, I lift my cupped hands towards my lips and blow warm breath into them.
The time is 5:50AM and I am taking my daily walk towards the bus stop. I look towards the horizon and spot a few red and orange rays slowly oozing their way towards daybreak. A few cars buzz by. One after the other, their humming tires rub against the pavement rousing a constant monotonous tone. Lost in this hypnotic state of morning ritual and seeking an escape, my mind wanders off. Feelings and forgotten memories of a world once known begin creeping their way into my mind. Thailand was once my home. The smell of its streets and the sound of bustling school children are just but some of the memories I hold dearly. I remember my ESL students; each of their smiling faces have become permanently fixated in my mind. Every one of those kids was so different than the other. I had Iraqi, Thai, Chinese, Korean, African, and Iranian children in my class. I remember how much joy those kids made me feel. My mind then shifted towards the friends that I made while there. They were kind, real, and peaceful. Traits which I strive to emulate daily. These and many other thoughts began stirring inside of me feelings of excitement for this upcoming trip. Reaching this one epiphany is what I had been looking forward to for moths; I was actually going to Asia.