Time, Speed and Distance

I knew they would be here. They have never missed a single event in my life. They had been always there, keeping aside their pre-occupations, taking time out of their busy schedule, just for me. For me, my parents were my pillars of strength, and their presence was more important to me than anything in the world was. Be it the first day of the school, or the solo singing competition that made me nervous in the second grade, or the tennis finals in eighth grade, they were always there. Always motivating me, propelling me further forward and today was no different. Anyways who would miss their only daughter’s graduation day? 

On even the smallest of your achievements, the adulation and ecstasy reflected in your parents’ eyes is second to none. Today it was the same. Their happiness took me down the memory lane – right down to my childhood. I was the youngest in the family and the only daughter after two sons. Naturally, I was an apple of the eye of everyone around. I used to be the focus of everyone’s attention. My dad was a strict disciplinarian and ideal match for my mom – tender, loving, and caring. They used to go on  walks together every evening to a nearby park. Sometimes my brothers would join us but it was a fixed routine for dad, mom and me. Sticking to a routine was something dad was very particular about. One thing I always noticed while walking was that my dad used to walk fast and ahead and mom always followed behind. I used to oscillate back and forth between them. Sometimes the distance was huge. It always perplexed me why mom walks so slowly; or dad walks so fast for that matter. Dad was strict and this was a stupid, childish question; one that I never asked out of fear.  As I grew older, I had to walk with one of them rather than oscillating. Mostly, it was dad, as he walked ahead and I liked to be in front, plus he was my hero. Other times it was Mom, when I was upset with my dad or crying or feeling sad. But I never walked with them together or saw them walking together. It was atypical for me and hard to understand as all my friends used to walk at the same speed as me, always together. However, my parents walked at their leisurely pace, never equal to the other. With none of them ever trying to match it up with the other, apparently it never mattered to anyone but me. As time flew, I stopped giving it much of a thought too. You know teenage years- you have a lot to think about other than a stupid childhood anomaly. 

Now today when I see them something is different. The distance between them is reduced to minimal. They look great walking together. That how it should have been, I knew it. As the time flew the distance between them receded, slowly but surely, syncing up their speeds. As of now all three of us siblings have moved out and have our separate lives, there is no one to take care of them, and they have no one to take care of.  I see them taking care of each other and complimenting each other. The feeling is exhilarating more than anything. I always wanted to walk with them together, and today I have a chance I might savor for the rest of my life. Any distance can be reduced over time, surely!