There was something special about flying, something Rebecca held in reverence. She added some gas to the hot air balloon, and she found herself flying higher. She refused the last customers of the night for this. The chilly air nipped at her nose, and she centered herself in the basket, looking out to the darkened sky.

It was a clear night, with stars finally beginning to show and people began turning out their lights. There was a whistle before the first firework went off and the boom deafened Rebecca. She was probably too close, but this was fine she just raised the balloon up higher. The smokey scent drifted away from her as the wind carried it away. People cheered and murmured beneath her, but it was a gentle hum from this distance.

The wind pulled her hair across her face as the next firework went off. She was able to feel the sound vibrating her basket and the explosions painted her skin in warmth. When you were this close you didn’t need a jacket.

Explosion after explosion carved the sky into intricate patterns, raining down fire that the sky snuffed out before it reached anyone. Rebecca pulled the balloon back a bit so she could close her eyes. The soft lull of faraway voices carried her mind away as the booming sounds destroyed everything else.

And, in those moments, the only things in Rebecca’s world were her and the sky.