Seeing the sky slowly, subtly darken from its dull, sullen rainy grey to deepening, gentle shades of blue, as my father's car zoomed down Bukit Timah Road, took me on a trip down memory lane.

It's been a long time since I last went down the road, that's been very much the lifeline, the central part of my life for the past 6 years. It's been quite a while since those days when I travelled the 30 kilometres back and forth to school each day, passing by all those once too familiar, but now distantly comforting landmarks.

It's been a long time since I last walked down Bukit Timah Road, heading for the nearby McDonalds or shopping centre for dinner after a hard day's studying with close friends and classmates, the sky already a dark blue as the last bits of dusk faded away into night, the heat of the day having long given way to the cool breeze of night, the night silent save for some occasional light-hearted chatting.

It's been a long time since I last sat at the airy benches by the fountains in the concourse, all alone, enjoying the cool evening breeze whisper gently in my ear, as I pored over books and notes, sum after sum, working late into the night, before I'd finally get up reluctantly to pack up at the sound of my father's approaching car.

It's been a long time since those foolish days at school, when I headed to school on Sundays trying to study, but ending up sitting on the steps of a deserted stairwell, looking out on the road below, trying to catch so much as a glimpse of a certain someone who was so special for no reason comprehensible to me now, staring on for hours.

It's been a long time, since those days of very hard work, of so much hope and satisfaction, of so much joy and passion, of so many incomprehensible things and foolishness.

It brings a smile to my face, to think of those days gone by, of all the happiness, all the silliness.

It's been a most magical journey.