I’m running as fast as I can.

The wind is strong, making it hard to run straight. I feel myself flowing through the forest as I repeatedly turn around to see if it’s still following me.

I hear it’s loud stomps. I hear it’s heavy breathing. I hear it growl and mumble and squeal.

I grab my nightgown and run with everything I have left in me. My legs ache and my throat is sore. My lungs feel like they are going to collapse.

I turn around and it’s nowhere to be seen. I pause in my tracks and it’s completely silent. The trees aren’t moving. There isn’t any wind.

An owl hoo’s, causing me to flinch. I look around. I look all around me and it’s becoming hard to breath. I cant breath. My chest is rising and falling a million times per second and my legs are shaking.

I fall to the wet and muddy grass and cry. Darkness fills my eyes and everything slowly fades away. Is this how I die?

“There’s something i’ve been needing to tell you for a while now.” He says as his hand reaches the back of his neck. He walks forward and stops when there is less than one inch between us. What is going on.

“What is it?” I ask. I have no idea where this is coming from. We’re standing in the middle of the living room in my apartment and the air, quite literally, got colder.

“I like you.” He admits in a nervous tone. My mind goes blank and I look up into his beautiful brown eyes. “I mean, we spend so much time together all the time, we go shopping, watch movies, and eat out. Ive liked you for the longest time but I never knew when to tell you. Or when it was a good time to tell you. Or if you liked me back or if you didn’t.” He rants. He seems nervous but as we’re both looking in each others eyes, I feel safe. I don’t know what I should say.

“So, umm. How do you feel?” My eyebrows raise for some reason when he says this.

“Sorry, I don’t know how to do this.” I admit as I look down, confused about this entire situation. His hand reaches my chin, lifting it towards his ever so slightly.

“It’s okay. Just try.” He gives me a reassuring smile.

“Why would you like a girl like me? I mean, I work at a deli place and your in publishing. I’m not exactly the kind of girl you would want.” Why am I letting my doubts get in the way? This is why no one wants me.

“You are exactly the kind of girl I want. That’s why i’m telling you how I feel. I love your perfect brown hair and your eyes. You’re so bubbly and slow but that’s okay.” He laughs. I laugh too and for some reason I am feeling the urge to kiss him.

I push up, from the ground, and connect my lips with his. With my bottom in between his lips, he deepens the kiss, picking me up and placing his hands on my hips.

I lean back, breaking the kiss, and say it. “I like you too.” He gives me the biggest smile and it was as if everything felt peaceful.

“Wake up!” Hand are on my body shaking me. I sit up quickly gasping for air as my mom stands over me.

“Mom, You scared me. What is it?” I ask, confused about what’s going on. I take a deep breath in and cough as soon as the air hits my lungs.

“Fire! Get up! We need to get out!” My mom yells. I stand up out of bed quickly and put on pants.

My mom grabs my hand and we run down the stairs.

“Maverick! Where’s Maverick?” I pause and look around in a hurry. I see him curled up in a chair and I grab him and run out the house with my moms hand still in mine.

“It’s okay. Shh.” I pet his furry head and kiss him. He purrs as I pet him.

As soon as I look up my heart drops. The air is filled with black smoke and my lungs feel like they are collapsing. The houses, the tall buildings, the tiny little shops are filled with smoke.

“C’mon!” My mom says as I follow behind her towards the car.

“Momma, What’s happening?” I ask as I rush to the front seat of her car.

She hops in the drivers seat and we drive off in a hurry. I stare out the window at everything and my heart hurts. My home, my city, my life is crumbling up and burning in flames.

The sand is warm and the water is cool. They balance out each other so when they hit our feet, it’s comforting. The sun is peering down us, i’m pretty sure we will be as red as a lobster.

My boyfriends arm is around my shoulder as we walk along the shore. I’m wearing a dress that flows in the wind and he’s wearing light blue swim trunks. I look down and with each step I take the sand gets on my feet, then washes away.

“Babe, There’s something over there floating in the water.” I look up from my feet and run to look. My curious mind always gets ahead of me.

The closer I get the more I see that it’s a clear beer bottle with something in it.

“There’s something in it.” I say as I grab it out the water. He comes up behind me and waits patiently as I open it.

I try and twist the top off but it’s hard and stuck.

“Let me do it, babe.” He grabs it from my hands and twists off the top easily. Show off. I smile as he takes out the little paper.

“I need help. I’m stuck on this little island. Please send help. SOS.” Reads the little paper.

“We need to call someone.” I say as my smile fades quickly.

“It’s probably some dumb prank.” He laughs.

“But what if it isn’t?”

“There’s no way this is real. I don’t think there are any islands out here.”

“Please. Just in case?” I do a pouty lip which always works.

“Fine. Let’s go.” He says and we run up to our hotel.

The wind blows, causing his brown hair to move slightly. His brown eyes are sparkly from the bright stars looking down on us. We had a picnic earlier and now that’s it nighttime, we decided to lay down and look at the stars.

“That’s the big dipper.” He raises his arm and points at the sky. I follow his finger as he waves it around and it’s true, there’s the big dipper.

His other arm is under my head and my hand is laying on his chest.

“You wanna know something.” I ask. We both turn our heads and make eye contact. The way his eyes are peering into my soul makes my heart flutter.

“Hm?” Smiling, I finally say the three words that i’ve been holding in forever.

“I love you.” I admit. His eyes light up and he stands up, leaving me laying on the ground alone. Does he love me?

“You love me?” His voice cracks and he bites his lip, trying to hide his smile.

I stand up, taking exactly one step forward, leaving one inch between us. I nod and the next thing I know, i’m in the air being twirled. He sets me down and raises his hand, putting my long front piece of hair behind my ear.

“I love you too.” He smiles. I don’t dare try and hide my smile because i’ve been waiting to here those words escape from his lips for the longest time.

“God, i’m so in love with you.” He says quietly, making butterflies appear in my stomach. I stand up on the tip of my toes and place my lips on his.

“Can we talk?” I ask in a calm tone. My boyfriend nods and I walk forward, sitting on the couch beside him. I look into his perfect brown eyes and grab his hands in both of mine.

“I got a call today about a job interview.” He smiles and his eyes light up.

“That’s amazing!” He smiles bigger.

“But, It’s in California.” I admit and as soon as I say this, his smile fades and his eyebrows raise. “It’s the best acting program there is. You know how much I want to be an actor.” I say-trying to back up my story.

He lets go of my hands and scoots away. He runs his fingers through his hair and we sit in silence for about a minute.

“So your leaving?” His voice is low and sad. I scoot closer.

“I was wondering if you wanted to move with me to California.” When I say this he turns and looks at me in my eyes.

“My family is here Kate. I can’t just leave my mom and dad. You know how important family is to me.” His eyes water and he looks away.

“This is important to me and I haven’t been focused on my career enough. You have an amazing job and I feel stuck. I finally found something that I want. I understand if you need to stay here with your family because family is important, but could you think about it?” I place my hand on his soft cheek and give him a genuine smile.

“I’ll think about it, okay?” He wraps his arms around me and pulls me closer. I wrap my arms around his neck and we stay there for a couple minutes.

“Can we go to bed?” He says into my neck. I nod and he picks me up and walks me to our bedroom.

He lays me down and he slides in next to me, but spooning me. I love this man so much.

“I’ll go, but I need to talk to my family and let them know.” He whispers in my ear.

I turn towards him quickly and kiss him.

“I love you so much.” I say in between kisses.

“I love you too.” He says back and my heart flutters.

This is absolutely perfect.

The sunshine peering through my window wakes me up. I sit up, rub the sleep out of my eyes, and prepare for the best day of my life.

Todays my birthday and i’m so excited for the party my mom promised me. I jump out of bed and run to my bathroom to make myself look a little more presentable.

I take a quit shower, brush my hair, do very little makeup, and then put on a matching Christmas pajama set because my birthday happens to fall on the day before Christmas Eve.

I open the door to my bedroom and walk out. I take a deep breath in and begin preparing for what my family has planned.

We’ve been through a lot so I hope they don’t forget. My dad passed recently and my mom hasn’t handled it very well. I haven’t either but I always have to put a strong face on for my little brother, Leo.

“Good morning.” My mom says as she’s making breakfast, as she always does.

“Good morning, momma.” I walk up behind her and hug her, kissing her on the cheek.

“Do you know what today is?” I ask excitedly. I smile big and nudge her a little with my arm.

“No, What is today?” She asks. This has to be a joke.”

“Do you really not know?” I pull back and wait for her to respond.

“Did I forget something? Is it Christmas Eve already?” She paused and turns around with a shocked looked on her face. “I didn’t rap presents yet. Oh my god.” She begins running to her bedroom but pauses.

“I’ll finish breakfast.” I say because I already knew what she was thinking.

She runs into her room and closes the door behind her.

Did she really forget? There’s no way. I mean I get it but it does hurt a little. Maybe she forgot because she’s to hurt to focus on me right now.

A loud thud comes from her bedroom and then seconds I hear her say, “Ow.”

I turn the stove off and rush to her bedroom. I turn the nob quickly and when I open the door my heart drops.

“Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday dear, Sara. Happy birthday to you.” My mom and little brother sing. My heart fills with pure happiness and I run in.

“Make a wish, Sara.” Leo says with the biggest smile.

I wish that life can be like this forever. That I will always be with my amazing family.

I blow out the candles and we walk to the kitchen for cake.

Turns out she didn’t forget which makes me the happiest 16 year old ever. I love them so much and I’m so happy we’re together.