I look at my house

My family’s house, really

So many memories there

So much love & hurt in those walls

I called it home, for 13 years, from 5 to 18 years old

I lived in the city before that, but I wouldn’t call it home anymore

Now it’s just a house

A condo

Somewhere I lived

What makes a home a home & not a house?

Ask anyone who has made somewhere else their home

My home is people, not necessarily a place

An orphan won’t call the orphanage their home on the first day there, no matter how many times others say it’s their home now

They’re not going to call the house of their first (& maybe only) adoptive parents their home at first, either

Houses are buildings, made for housing people & providing shelter for them

Shelter from the elements

A home holds memories

Emotions

Good, no not good emotions.

Emotions that bring you a sense of joy, a sense of ease, a sense of comfort & being loved & loving others

Not usually emotions that make you frustrated, that cause you to feel anger, to want to hurt or destroy something, talk negatively to something or abt something or someone

A home is somewhere you long to be when you’re homesick,

It’s the place you can relax after a long day

A home is not somewhere you wish to never return to again

That is a house.