Cool air greets me as I walk into the natural healing shop, a nice change from outside. Miriam is behind a counter restocking a shelf. The calming scent of lavender drifts through the air.

"I'll go with you," I call out.

She puts a final bottle on the shelf. Getting down from the ladder, she comes to stand in front of me. "We will leave the day after the 4th of July, so you can enjoy the festivities with your family and friends." 

"Will you come and join the celebrations?"

She claps her hands together, a wide smile graces her face. "If you would like me to be there, that would be nice. I've never experienced the 4th of July celebrations before. I mean, we have fireworks on the islands, but I would love to experience them with you and your family."

We sit around talking about little things - getting to know one another - in between customers. I look at my watch. Oh, lord! It's almost time for my shift at the family shelter for the abused.

"I'll talk to my mom about when the picnic will start and then I'll come back and talk with you some more tomorrow."

We say our goodbyes, and I race through town trying to make it on time. Kaitlyn will kill me if she has to stay longer and miss shopping with her friends. Mom wants to talk about my birthday coming up - maybe I can stay longer at the shelter.

My birthday comes quicker than I would like. My mom went all out for my birthday this year, since I will be leaving soon. She even invites Miriam, which is nice to see, since it will make my life easier if they get along.

Purple and black streamers and balloons suffocate our covered porch. A slight breeze knocking them into Danny's head is a source of entertainment. Spencer chuckles, and Danny gives him a sour look before trying to throw one at him.

"Helium, Danny. Helium," I shout, "almost as light as your head."

He runs at me, picks me up and starts twirling me in the yard.

"Say I am the handsomest, smartest guy you know." he demands, still spinning me around.

"Momma always told me not to lie," I reply - I'd smile if I could.

He starts going faster. "Say it."

My head spins. "You'll get dizzy before I say it."

Sure enough, he falls with both of us a minute later.

"I win." I breathe out, my world stops tilting.

Danny heaves in. "But I am still the most handsomest man you know."

"The cutest boy," I say before jumping up and heading for the porch, ducking behind my dad.

"Kids," he chides, and Danny knows, from his tone, to settle down.

Jared couldn't make it, but Spencer and Kaitlyn are sitting off to the side, where mom is complimenting Kaitlyn on her new dress - a latest fashion trend she tells me. What do I know about the latest trends? I like my blue jean shorts, athletic tops, over-sized hoodies and occasional sundress just fine.

I've not seen the cake yet, but mom probably has purple flowers on it, like every birthday. I don't mind the flowers, it tells me she cares.

Everyone sings "Happy Birthday." Before the last note is sung, Spencer jumps in and says I need to blow the candles out before the house burns down.

I huff. "It's only nineteen candles."

"Twenty, but who's counting," Danny comments, and Spencer high fives him - boys.
The candles are out, and I bounce on my feet.

"Cut the cake, mom, so we can eat, and I can open presents," I say, pointing at the boxes on the table in front.

"Hold your horses, Lavender," Spencer pipes up. He thinks I'm not fond of the nickname, but I secretly am.

I pick up one of the purple roses and sling it at him. He ducks at the last minute, and it hits Kaitlyn instead. Kaitlyn storms over with her plate of cake.

"It wasn't meant for you," I try to explain, my breath catching as I am trying to hold in my laughter.

She tries unsuccessfully to throw the plate at me. Unsuccessfully being that I had moved to the side when she threw the plate, the plate hitting Danny in the chest. The cake now slides down his shirt leaving white, purple and black icing behind.

And, the food fight is on.

The adults stay out of the way until the last drop of icing flies.

Mom points to the bucket of water with what looks like hand soap and a few towels next to it.

"Tallulah Leia James, if you want to open presents, clean up."

I guess she's upset I started the food fight. Marching over to the bucket, I pass dad - a grin passing between us before mom turns around.

Once the mess is cleaned up, I start opening.

The first gift is from Miriam. It is a beautiful necklace having a moonstone within a silver airy-looking encasing. Miriam explains that not only is moonstone one of my birthstones, but that the necklace will serve as my own talisman once I receive my powers. Running over, I hug her, which surprises us both. However, I appreciate the thought placed in picking this out for me.

A present wrapped in what looks like a cover for a picnic table is next, I know it's from Danny. A beautiful friendship bracelet made of silver waits for me inside. It has a charm with a compass on the front and on the back said "I am with you no matter where you go" How the jeweler got all of that on the back of the charm, I'll never figure it out. This bracelet will just add to the collection of friendship bracelets that are still strong enough to stay on my wrist. The rest lie in a special box in my room. I have him put it around my wrist before I continue to the next presents. The smile on his face makes the gift all that more special.

A pink and silver gift is next - all Kaitlyn. Inside is a sundress, a journal, and a pair of polarized sunglasses I've been looking for. I hop over and hug Kaitlyn.

A box wrapped in purple is the last one on the table, so it must be one gift from the whole family.

"Oh my lord!" I gasp as I open the box. Inside is the best gift I could imagine. A charm bracelet filled with charms of every kind sits inside.

The first charm I notice is an antique-looking silver heart, with the inscription, "Mother and Daughter forever." My eyes mist but I hold back from them being flooded.

A shiny, blackish-green stone sits next to the heart. When I ask Miriam about the stone, she says its labradorite, and it is supposed to help protect you from the negative influences in your surroundings and give you clarity of mind to help you stay away from people who would sap your energy.

A set of dictionary charms greets me. One with the word "Believe," on the side, and one with the word "Journey." On the other side of the heart is a pumpkin charm, and I know exactly who that is from - I smile widely at him.

Another dictionary charm with the word "Daughter" at the top comes next. After that is a round, bright blue stone Miriam called lapis lazuli. It is supposed to help boost your self-awareness and psychic abilities, something that will probably be helpful. The last charm is another dictionary charm with the word "Sister" on it.

The dam finally opens, and I go around hugging my family. My family's thoughts and love will go with me wherever I go. The love I feel in my heart can't be defined. As soon as I leave, I will be ready to see everyone again - even my siblings.

We prepare for the Fourth of July celebrations starting the day before. Mom cooks up fried chicken, while I make biscuits and everyone else prepares potato salad and baked beans. Dad and the boys load up the coolers with drinks and a watermelon.

Miriam comes with pie and cookies, and we load up in Dad's SUV and Spencer's truck and head to the lake.

Once there and set up, most of us go down to swim at the lake and jump from the rope swing. Dad shows up to take plenty of pictures. Spencer and Danny try to dunk Kaitlyn and I, but we're too quick for them. Swimming makes me hungry, and apparently everyone else, too. It is a race to the picnic blanket once we all dry off. We devour the food before we lay around drying completely in the sun.

A game of softball commences, and I'm thankful Spencer is home from college for the holidays. Not only is he a great older brother, he is a better pitcher than Danny or Dad...I'd like to leave with fewer bruises this year. Everyone decides to end the game in a tie, and I find out Mom taught Miriam how to use her new camera. I can't wait to see what kind of pictures she captured.

The sun goes down behind the hills, and the lightning bugs start to flicker. Kaitlyn and I chase them—passing the time because my legs start to bounce, and I play with any paper or plastic I can get my hands on, annoying Mom and Dad. Well, I don't always want to annoy them. The higher the lightning bugs get in the trees, the closer it comes to time for the fireworks to begin.

We gather around on the blanket until the first boom rocks the trees. Continuous blasts ricochet through the trees before the first display of color greets us. Splashes of color decorate the skies while the noise fades into the background, my concentration only on what is above me. The wind picks up this evening, and some of the firework's displays have to compete with the smoke coming from the explosives. This doesn't diminish the amazing sight before us.

The day and the fireworks comes to an incredible finish with a continuous stream of red, white and blue.

On the way home, the gravity of my future hits me, and I have to take a deep breath. Tomorrow I will start on a new path towards the future. I don't want to leave my family and friends behind, but if I don't do this, for myself, the stream of regret will drown me before I even have a chance to pick another future.