The Dreamer’s Flight:
A Story of Leaving
The young man felt a storm of emotions in his heart. Soon, he would be on a plane to Dubai, leaving behind the only life he’d ever known. He was drawn by the chance of opportunity, shining like mirages in the desert, offering Levis jeans and gleaming watches, a world away from the smuggled clothes and watches of his Sri Lankan youth. But under the excitement, he also felt a twist of fear in his stomach. He would miss his family, their warm laughter filling the tile-roofed house, the smell of his mother’s spicy curries coming from the kitchen and his father’s morning coffee. He would miss his friends, their loud games of cricket in the dusty streets, their shared secrets told under the coconut trees.
He had dreamt of this day since he was a boy, looking at pictures of foreign lands, the words promising a life of endless possibility. He had applied for a scholarship to an American boarding school but was rejected. He felt a bitter sadness, but it only made him more determined. With its tall towers and quiet promises of wealth, Dubai seemed like a second chance; a golden door opened for him.
The day before his flight, he went to the health clinic, feeling pain, as the nurse gave him an anti-malarial injection. She said something about his thinness with a cold voice that hurt more than the needle. He ignored her words, thinking instead of his father, his face showing pride and worry. “You raised a son,” his uncle had said, with a sharp tone of blame, “now he is leaving you.” The words hit him hard, making him feel more guilty than before. He wanted to tell his uncle that he was not abandoning his family but was going to make a better life for them. But he knew his uncle would not understand. He had never left the island, never seen the world beyond the horizon. But as he walked through the departure gate, he forgot the sadness of goodbye for a moment, feeling a rush of joy instead.
He was the first in his family to go beyond the island’s shores, a leader making a way into the unknown. He would take their hopes and dreams as part of who he was. He would make them proud, not just with designer watches and stereo systems, but with the brave spirit of following his vision. The journey ahead would be long and hard, but he faced it with the strong will of a dreamer, holding the old map of his goals. He knew he would make mistakes and cry, that the faraway image of success would be unclear. But he also knew, with a deep and sure feeling, that he would find his way because he had in him not just the pressure of expectations but the endless power of his heart. He packed his bags, making sure he had everything he needed.
Aunty Chutti had asked him for colourful scarves; he smiled, thinking of her kindness. He also packed a sketchbook and some pencils, a gift from his father. He had said, “Even if you fail in your job, you can succeed as an artist.” He knew his father believed in his talent, and he felt grateful. Just before he left home, he hugged his parents long and hard, seeing the sparkle in their eyes. They never told him what to do and what not to do. They trusted their son to do great things for the family.
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