Sounds are like a key that can unlock a safe. A safe of memories, filled to the brim with sweet recollections and joyful sensations. The sounds of the stormy seas, the cheerful chirping of crickets in tall grasses, or the golden shimmer of sunlight on skin, these are all like songs that compose the music of a living universe. For me, home is more than a place. It is an intricate web of memories, deeply intertwined with those who've made them with me. The sounds of my home are the music that fills me with peace and comfort. 

 My house, too has its own playlist. Home is where the heart is, and for me, the heart of home is the kitchen. Even before the sun is up and the world is still asleep, my mom is making breakfast, using steel utensils to prepare a delicious meal for the family. The clinking of plates mixed with the clanging of pots and the sizzle of pans fill the kitchen with comforting sounds that instantly evoke memories of love and happiness from my childhood. Now that I'm away at college, the silence is deafening. Without those precious sounds, I feel lost and alone, longing for the comfort of home.

The kitchen would come to life on Sunday mornings, a hub of energy and excitement as my father took on the role of cook. He had his own unique recipe for Maggi, a dish that I have yet to find elsewhere. While Maggi may still be readily available, nothing can compare to my father’s cooking. The soothing sounds of pots and pans have now been replaced by the harsh and jarring noises of an alarm clock. Instead of rising slowly to the sound of peaceful cooking, I am now jolted out of bed by the loud beeping of an alarm clock.

My family has moved several times growing up, so I'm used to leaving my home behind to start a new chapter in life. But there was always something different about leaving home for college. Unlike past times, I wasn't just leaving behind a house this time. I was leaving home.

Comfort crawls from each crack and crevice of my pink room. They've been my sanctuary throughout my life and always provided me with a sense of safety, security, and comfort. I miss the simple yet calming atmosphere of my room, the familiar decorations and furnishings, the warmth of my bed, and the feeling of security when I lay on the bedsheet. Leaving those pink walls for college feels like I lost a part of myself.

College life is tough, especially when you're trying to adjust to a new environment and missing everything about home that you took for granted. It feels like a constant struggle to balance between surviving in the new world and holding on to the old one. It feels like a constant tug-of-war between two worlds, each one pulling you in different directions, and you're just trying to find balance and hold on to both. I miss my mom coming into my room to show me what she made and how she'd excitedly tell me all about the dish and the ingredients used. I know she still calls me to talk about what she baked, but it's not the same as having her here in person, able to share her joy and excitement with me through her expressions and gestures. 

Yeah.

I’m going to remind myself that the Universe is always here and just as present in my daily life; I don’t need to make special time for it if I can’t. They know me and love me regardless.