“ I believe in you”

by Liberty Palmer (United Kingdom (Great Britain))

A leap into the unknown Dominican Republic

As a young child growing up with Tourette’s syndrome it has always been my inevitable downfall to view myself as uniquely, consistently different to everyone around me. My need to search for more in a cruel world that gives little back , my restlessness to want things without thinking them through. But taking such an impulsive , spur of the moment decision has lead me to a personal quest of uncovering the psychological layers in my mind almost like peeling an onion , layer after layer trying to reach the centre. Stepping into all consuming , thick heat ironically sent shivers down my spine as I knew I had finally arrived and was raring to start my journey. Although I was happy to be here the flood of other passengers on the dangerously small travel bus was overwhelming as we traveled to the airport where we would all split like the Red Sea to find our coaches to take us all on our separate ways. This reminded me of something I had read online “ we must all go our separate ways in order to each achieve greatnesses in our own separate ways”. Anxiety struck me as I rushed around with my agonisingly heavy case trying to find the coach I was fated to be on but this was hard when my heart was pounding like a humming bird. Sweat dripping down the palms of my hands gripping so tightly onto the handle of my case I feared I may snap it, until suddenly I saw a Simple man holding a cleanly cut piece of cardboard with my name on it. Rushing over I was directed to where I was meant to be and it was only in that moment I was so thankful for the years of anxiety control I had. Although the coach was oozing with humidity I had never been so thankful that I was on route to my destination than stuck in that airport like an ant under a microscope. I could feel my skin burning up and reacting with the heat like a catalyst. Each person to get of the coach made me more and more eager to arrive at my destination as the anticipation was killing me. What felt like hours later the coach had finally stopped . I looked around the coach to find I was the last person on it and my eyes glistened as the translator called my name out. I shot up as if I had sat on a lump of scorching hot coat and raced to the from on the coach where I got off. I had arrived in front of a magnificent pillared plaice where staff awaited my entrance. As started to walk on the glistening panelled floor where there were no doors or windows , simply so you could appreciate every square inch of this memorable place to what some might call just a hotel but to me I call a dream. I knew I had to go to the front desk to check in however something blinding caught my eye I just had to find out what it was. I dragged my suitcase across the clean entrance floor which lead me to hard stone floor where I continued to walk. As I was walking I couldn’t help but feel like I was indulging in paradise. I carried on walking past the pools , past the small footed hotel rooms until the wheels on my suitcase and shockingly stopped on the beginning of a bamboo path. I had been so so intrigued bu the blue sky and the birds flying above that I had failed to acknowledge I was standing on glorious, textured , real sand. And it was only then as I looked up too realise that the blinding light I had perceived was the light beaming of the Caribbean blue sea which was still and could cut glass. In this moment taking my surroundings in I felt like I was waiting for someone to pinch me to wake me up as this did not seem real. However I knew it must be as I have never felt more destine to be somewhere more in my entire life.