Stepping off the rattling bus, the hometown I arrived in had changed more than I expected. Where narrow dirt paths and corner shops once stood, there were now cafes of brands I'd never heard of and neatly paved sidewalks. I walked slowly, looking at the scenery that had transformed as if to prove the passage of time.

Ren, the childhood friend I naturally lost contact with after moving away at a young age. Back then, Ren was a cool, refreshing kid who always followed right behind me. Memories of rolling around on the dirt and running through the mountains together shimmered like a haze over the changed streetscape.