Chapter 13
The warm days of early summer stretched out endlessly,
filled with bright sunshine,
and the constant,
and incredibly cheerful sound of cicadas buzzing in the trees.
Emma finished her school year with excellent grades,
bringing home a bright blue ribbon,
for her beautifully creative science fair project.
Jessica was overwhelmingly proud,
taping the bright ribbon to the center of the refrigerator,
right next to the lovely drawing of their safe house.
To celebrate the successful end of the school year,
they decided to take a short weekend road trip,
driving down the long coastal highway,
to visit the massive,
and beautifully blue ocean.
They packed the small car with soft beach towels,
and a large cooler filled with cold drinks,
and strapped a very excited Buster into the back seat.
The drive was completely peaceful,
with the windows rolled all the way down,
letting the salty sea breeze blow wildly through their hair.
They sang loudly to upbeat pop songs on the radio,
their voices blending perfectly together,
in a joyful,
and entirely carefree melody.
When they finally arrived at the sandy beach,
Emma ran straight toward the crashing waves,
laughing hysterically as the cold water touched her toes.
Jessica laid out a large striped blanket on the warm sand,
and sat down to watch her daughter play freely in the sun.
There was no anxiety tightening her chest today,
no constant worry that someone would suddenly appear,
and ruin this perfect,
and absolutely beautiful moment.
She opened a thick paperback novel,
losing herself completely in the fictional story,
while the rhythmic sound of the heavy waves,
lullabyed her into a state of profound relaxation.
They spent the entire afternoon building a massive sandcastle,
decorating the tall towers with smooth seashells,
and digging a deep,
and completely functional moat around the base.
Buster tried to help them dig,
sending wet sand flying everywhere,
and eventually falling fast asleep under the beach umbrella.
As the bright sun began to lower in the sky,
painting the clouds in vivid shades of pink and orange,
they packed up their belongings,
and walked slowly down the wooden boardwalk.
They bought huge scoops of sweet vanilla ice cream,
eating them quickly before they melted entirely in the heat,
and taking dozens of silly pictures on Jessica's phone.
They stayed in a small,
and incredibly cozy motel right by the water,
falling asleep to the sound of the ocean breeze,
rattling the wooden window shutters gently.
Jessica woke up the next morning feeling entirely refreshed,
as if the salty air had magically washed away,
the very last lingering traces of her old,
and completely painful emotional wounds.
She looked over at her deeply sleeping daughter,
her face tanned,
and looking completely at peace,
and Jessica made a silent,
and incredibly unbreakable vow to the universe.
She would keep this peace forever,
guarding it fiercely against any potential threats,
and making sure that Emma never knew the dark pain,
that had almost destroyed their family entirely.
They drove back home the next day,
sunburned,
and absolutely exhausted,
May you like
but carrying a million beautiful new memories,
safely locked away in their incredibly happy hearts.
