I was woken up by the birds outside the window in the morning. Although it was only early summer, the heat in the south was already very strong. Only in the early morning could there be a sense of coolness. It had been a week since I left home, and I began to miss home more and more as I went back.

In order to go home early, I booked a very early flight. The driver was already waiting for me in the lobby at 6 o’clock.

Facing the morning light, the car was driving on the highway. When the window was rolled down, a breeze came to the face, relaxing every pore in the body.

The driver suddenly asked me: “You have been laughing all the time. What happy things have you thought of?”

I couldn’t help but smile: “I will be happy when I go home.”

The scenery on both sides is retreating rapidly, and I can’t help but sigh. No matter how hard we work, how independent we are, how strong we are, in the end, we always need a home, where we can put down all our fatigue, accommodate all our attachments and cares, and make our hearts belong. In such a mood, I think of someone.

Call her N! We have known each other for ten years. When we first met, neither of us had any money. The only advantage I had over her was that I was a local and she was a foreigner. I could live at home and save a lot of money. At that time, I Single, she has a boyfriend.

When we first met, she told me: “My dear, I only have one wish, which is to own my own house as soon as possible and have a home of my own.”

At that time, I couldn’t understand her urgent need for a house. At my age at that time, I felt that I had too much love to drink and couldn’t afford to buy a house, so I could rent one!

Later, she invited me to play at home for the first time. It was a two-bedroom house shared with another young couple. They lived in the large south-facing room, and rented the small north-facing room to the young couple. The living room and kitchen The bathroom is shared. When I went there, the young couple was not there. She lamented to me: “Actually, I really don’t like sharing a room with others, but I can’t help it. Neither he nor I have a high income. Renting out the small room can give me more money.” With an income of 1,000 yuan, fortunately, that young couple is quite nice, but it is not convenient after all.”

That day, she made me four dishes and one soup. While helping me ladle the soup, she said, “It would be great if one day I could entertain you in my own house.”

I suddenly felt a little sad and told her that we were both still young and that as long as we work hard, we will get what we want sooner or later.

That time was the first time I truly felt how much a woman needs a home of her own.

Two years later, she moved to a new home and invited me to be her guest. Although it was a new home, it was still rented, but she no longer shared it with others. It was a single apartment with one bedroom and one living room. After her careful decoration, it was very warm and comfortable. taste.

She smiled and told me: “Although the rent is 800 more expensive than the previous house, I no longer have to share the living room and kitchen with others. If someone comes over, I don’t have to worry about affecting anyone. I can entertain my friends as I like.”

I was also happy for her, but after chatting for a while, she suddenly asked me with emotion: “Dear, when do you think I will have a home of my own? I don’t need a big one, seventy or eighty square meters is enough, that’s enough.” For the two of us, plus a child, it can be smaller, maybe fifty or sixty square meters, and we can change it to a bigger one later when we have money.”

I smiled and comforted her, if you work so hard, you will have a house sooner or later, but I felt very sad.

Later, both of them got promotions and salary increases, and they were in a series of triple jumps.

She called me very happily and said that she could finally have her own house. Thinking that she was of marriageable age and had been longing for a house for many years, it would be a particularly happy thing to get married in her own house. .

But not long after, she told me in a low voice that her boyfriend did not agree to buy a house. He felt that the current house price bubble was too much, and it might fall after buying it. After all, she had rented it for so many years, so it would not be better to wait for the house price to fall before buying it. OK?

She has always had a good temperament, but she made a mistake about the house. She insisted on buying her own house. If she didn’t have a house, she would never get married. She could rent a house, but she would never let her children be born in a rented house. .

The two had great differences on whether to buy a house. In the end, the boyfriend compromised and agreed to buy a house for her to get married. However, the eldest son was unhappy because he thought that he had been living a good life, but now he had to bear so many loans and became a House slaves.

Even so, she was still very happy to finally have a house of her own. She tried her best to decorate it, making pillows and embroidering cross-stitch by herself. When she told me how much the decoration cost, I was surprised. Because in my concept, how could it be decorated so beautifully with so little money?

But what’s even more surprising is that the man cheated on him after only four months of marriage, and another girl came to his door. He didn’t feel very guilty. He felt that in today’s world, separation and reunification were too normal, and he wanted to compensate. , give this house to her! Because the house is what she has longed for for many years.

However, she did not want the house, but quickly sold it and took away her own part of the money.

On the day she left, the man seemed to have a trace of regret and asked her why she was willing to sell the house she had decorated with her own hands.

She said with tears: “For so many years, what I have needed is not a house, but a home. The house is just a carrier. Now that my home is gone, why do I need a house?”

At that moment, the man suddenly burst into tears and said deeply sorry!

Later, one late night, she called me: Dear, he came to see me today. He was not having a good life. The conflict with his new girlfriend was getting bigger and bigger. The girl’s mother was also very snobbish and strong. Some time ago, We finally broke up. He said he bought back the house we lived in and wanted to start over with me, but I knew it was impossible. No matter what house I bought, the feeling of home had been destroyed. The home I wanted was It doesn’t matter how old you are, but you have a lover who knows both coldness and hotness, who can quarrel with me and be angry with me, but who always cares about me, and a child. You don’t need to be outstanding, as long as you are healthy and happy! Without love, home is no longer home.

She spoke very softly, but every word hit my heart.

…

I think of what many girls said most often when consulting me: He cheated, he was irresponsible, he never cared about me, he never cared about the children, he didn’t make enough money to spend on himself, and he asked me for money from time to time. , but, I still don’t want to get divorced, I don’t want to break up this family, and I don’t want my children to have no father.

When I see these girls, I always feel distressed and helpless. I don’t know how to tell them that such a family has long since failed. The so-called home does not just mean living in a house together, nor does it mean having a marriage certificate, nor does it mean that we are together no matter what, to constitute a family.

Home needs warmth. He may not be rich every day, but he must know how to care for you; he does not have to be rich and noble, but he must know how to take care of and protect all members of the family from harm, let alone actively harm his wife; He doesn’t have to be outstanding in everything, but he must be a man who treats you sincerely.

Otherwise, no matter how big the house is, no matter how much money you have, or how clear the legal relationship is, it cannot be considered a home. Home is the kind of place that makes you miss you as soon as you leave; it is the place that you will miss no matter how far you go. The place you go back to is a place where you smile and feel warm when you think about it. Instead of an empty house, a lover who doesn’t know where he lives at the moment, a place that makes you feel empty and lonely, a place that fills you with tears and sadness, it is not a home, but a cage and a shackles.

A home like this is worse than nothing.

Suddenly I remembered a sentence I wrote a long time ago: Home is my wish for my marriage and love, no matter how far I go, I will never lose it! I think this is the true meaning of “home”.