Warm thermals are pushing my heart gently upward in a seemingly never ending spiral. It is peace which is self-ascending to the heavens, seeing the view usually bequeathed only to the birds, their birthright and domain. As we would glide on, above the green cliffs, over the heather and on toward the patchwork urbanland we would begin to gain height. It is some 23 hours before I finally have to step off the Mauritian ground and feel the world infinitely below me. I imagine myself with the wind tousled in my newly cropped hair and the bottom right corner stamping the words: “New Beginnings: Making the Leap into a New Life.” Tomorrow, I leave home. I leave a place that has been my childhood cocoon. I love this home and the community around it so much that for now I can only bury this pain and hope to deal with it later. To those that take my place it is only walls, the streets only concrete, but to me there is love here. As I turn to depart I feel part of my soul i