Nine Years Later

Nine years ago, I arrived at one of the most beautiful places my eyes have ever seen.
My 10-year-old self, who swore I’d live in another country someday, never imagined what I would witness years later.
Oh, so many memories.

It was my first time traveling; I was 19 years old.
I saw the vastness of the sky from a plane for the first time.

We landed, the plane door opened, and I felt a breeze that chilled my bones.

I learned not to fear walking in the rain.
To find my strongest version.
To enjoy every second.

Everything I experienced in Ireland was worth it; it changed me forever.
I arrived as one person, and I left as another.

When I left, I felt an emptiness inside me.
And at the moment of departure, I knew I wanted to return. The magic I once felt stayed there.

A year passed, and everything felt the same.
Three years went by, and the longing to return remained.

I met people, had jobs, enjoyed good moments, and created memories. But my heart remained there.

Now, nine years later, just months away from returning, I realize that time puts everything in place.
I’m going back as a different person, ready to enjoy it like the first time.

To my future self: you have no idea of the beauty that awaits you in Ireland.