The Beginning, Middle, but not the End

Day 6,737 (June 13th)

"Okay, you guys have to call us as soon as you land," Mom hugs me tight.

I laugh, "I know, mom." A feeling of mild anxiety settles in the bottom of my stomach. Mom and Dad are clearly more anxious about this trip than I am though, they've been reminding me nonstop that if there were to be anything to happen to either of us, to call them, and they'd come get us. I had to keep reassuring them that Dallas and I would be okay.

Dad speaks up, "She's serious, Jodie."

"I know!" I hug him tightly too.

Callie comes up to me, "Jo, you have to call me after you guys get to the hotel so we can make plans for where y'all are going on your adventure."

I give her a tight hug as well, "I promise, I will."

I peer out the window to see Dallas' car pull in front of the driveway, "He's here!"

Everyone helps me pack my bags into the trunk. Mom and dad pull Dallas away to talk to him about the trip. It took us a while to convince them we'd be fine without Callie in Florida. I'm excited, this would be our first road trip together. They're probably lecturing him on our trip now. Callie leans against the trunk with me. "Are you scared?" She gives me a sip of her soda.

I chuckle nervously, "A little. This is my first step to being an adult. Is it always this nerve-wracking?"

"Always."

I smile and embrace her one last time, "This is a new chapter."

"Make the most of it, Jo," Callie whispers to me before I let her go.

I walk to Dallas, "Are you ready?"

My parents smile at us when he nods, "Be safe you too, we love you both." I embrace my parents one last time. Dallas and I go get into his car. We wave to my family as we pull away.

"Onto the next adventure," Dallas smiles and takes my hand in his while he drives.

"Onwards," I laugh.

We park the rental car in the sandy lot. The Florida sun is high in the sky and is almost blinding. I cover my eyes with my free hand, the other intertwined with Dallas'. We walk down the beach and stand on the shoreline. Small waves crash on my feet, sending goosebumps throughout my entire body. This feels better than that dream I had months ago, this is real. The crystal clear water washes shells onto the shore. The warm sun makes my skin hot and sticky.

Dallas leans down to me, "Aren't you happy we made it?" It's this moment in which I realize, the past times I thought to be happy were never really true, I told myself they were though, so I would feel content with being alive. Perhaps one day happiness won't be an illusion, but rather a reality. Maybe this is just the first step to getting there.