Never 18

Chapter 5

The highway stretches ahead of us, a long road cutting through the landscape. Dana and I sit side by side, our shoulders touching every now and then as the camper sways gently on the curves. We stare out the window, captivated by the world outside.

The scenery blurs into a mix of greens and browns, with splashes of wildflowers along the roadside. It feels like watching a living painting come to life before our eyes. I can't help but think how this trip is a lot like life—always moving, always changing, with surprises waiting around each corner.

Though sometimes those surprises aren't always good...

The radio is playing loud, with classic rock songs filling the air. The guitars and strong vocals of Led Zeppelin and The Rolling Stones blend with the sound of the wind coming through the cracked windows.

I turn to Dana and smile. Her hair flies around her face, caught in the breeze from the open window. She looks wild and free, her eyes shining with excitement.

"This is amazing," she says, her voice almost lost in the music and the wind.

"It is," I reply, laughing.

Dana's eyes soften as she looks at me, a small smile on her lips. "You know, I love your laugh. It's like... like sunshine breaking through dark clouds."

"Thanks. Though I haven't had much to laugh about lately," I admit, looking down at my hands fidgeting in my lap.

She reaches out, her fingers intertwining with mine. "Well, we're going to change that. This trip? It's all about making you laugh until your sides hurt."

I can't help but chuckle at that, squeezing her hand gratefully. "I like the sound of that."

"This is going to be the best summer ever," she says, smiling. Her smile is beautiful—truly beautiful. But then it fades away. The light in her eyes dims, replaced by a hint of sadness. "I mean, besides you dying..."

"It's okay, Dana," I say, cutting her off before she can dwell on it. I force myself to meet her eyes, showing her that I'm not scared. "Don't think about that. Focus on the adventure."

She takes a deep breath, her chest rising and falling as she tries to shake off the sadness. "Okay," she whispers, and I can see how hard it is for her to push those thoughts away. Then she smiles again. It's smaller this time, a bit bittersweet, but still beautiful. "Promise me you'll live every moment. Don't waste a second. Just... live."

"I promise," I say, squeezing her hand. I put all my heart into those two words, hoping she knows how much I mean them. I will live, really live, for both of us. And for my dad.

We sit quietly for a while, just looking at each other. I get lost in her eyes, thinking about all the good times we've had together.

Beautiful times... times that are gone...

"You know," Dana suddenly says, breaking the silence, "I've been thinking about time a lot lately." She looks out the window. "It's strange, isn't it? How some moments feel like they last forever, while others disappear before you even notice them."

I nod, knowing exactly what she means. "Yeah..."

She turns back to me with a soft smile. "Exactly. And I keep thinking about all the little moments we've shared over the years. The sleepovers, the inside jokes, the silly fights that seemed so big back then." She pauses, her eyes growing distant. "I wish I could go back and tell my younger self to pay more attention and to enjoy every second."

Her words hit me deep inside. How many moments have I let slip by, too focused on the future or stuck in the past? "We can't go back," I say gently, "but we can make the most of now."