Back When It Was Easier to Dream Big

So, I guess it's time to admit something that has been weighing on me for a while. You know how we all have these big dreams when we're younger? Like becoming an astronaut or inventing the next big thing? Well, my dream was always to open up this tiny bookstore somewhere cozy and quiet where everyone who walked in felt at home. I used to think about it all the time, planning out everything from the layout to the smell of the books. But as life got busy with jobs and bills and reality just kind of happening around us, that dream started fading like an old photograph left in a damp place for too long. And here I am, still thinking about it every once in a while when I pass by bookstores or see something on social media related to them. It's weird how something can be so clear in your mind and then just slip away without you even noticing it happening. Sometimes, looking back, I wonder if I should have fought harder for it, but then again, maybe the dream wasn't meant to last forever. Now all that's left is this vague nostalgia and a quiet sadness when I realize how different my life ended up compared to what my younger self imagined.