Nostalgia.

You are back. Back to where you were born, where you took your first step, where you grew up, where you got acquainted with the people. Where you used to play with your friends. Where your memories rest. But it's all gone. None of it is the same. It's lost. Lost with the war. Lost like the lives of thousands of people. Lost like all the happiness linked with the place.

Do you remember all the days spent here. Do you remember playing in the evenings with your friends. Do you remember the constant banter over the silliest of things. Do you remember the fights over who gets to bat next. Do you remember the school you went to. Do you remember the boring hours listening to your teacher drone on and on. Do you remember the fun nights. Do you remember the summers you spent. Do you remember the stages you went through. Do you remember the good times and the bad times. Do you remember that shop at the corner which sold sweets. Do you remember it like it was just yesterday?

But why would you recall any of this. It won't matter to you.

It won't bother you that the roads, once busy with traffic, are left empty, barren. The potholes more noticeable due to the after effects of war. It won't bother you that the smell of sand you used to love when it rained, is now mingled with the blood of innocent people. It won't bother you when you see the rivers dried up. It won't bother you when you see the dead vegetation. It won't bother you when you set foot in your old house. It won't bother you when you see the look of it. It won't bother you that it is now completely deserted. It won't bother you that it is a wreck. It won't bother you that the once white paint is black with the smoke. It won't bother you when you step on something and realize it was your favourite toy as a kid. None of it will bother you.

Because you moved away long before this started. You fled. You now have a much better life in some other country than the one you had here. Just like when the next version of a game came out and you forgot the old one, you forgot your life at home. Just like you outgrew your favourite sweater, you outgrew your home.

You live a happy life at another place now.

This is just a ghost of past.