Wildflower & Firefly

Chapter 1: The Campground

June 1st, 3:00 PM

I stood at the entrance of the camp, my heart racing faster than I could take a deep breath. Camp Willow, a place full of pine trees, dirt paths, and endless sunshine, looked nothing like the sterile world I'd spent most of my life in. I ran my hand over the straps of my backpack, the weight of it familiar and comforting. I wasn't sure if I was ready for this—summer camp, the first real experience of freedom I'd ever had—but I didn't have a choice. My parents had insisted.

"You'll be fine, Mary," my mom had said with a strained smile before I left. "It's only for a few weeks. Just try to have fun, okay?"

I could hear her voice in my head now. I didn't know if fun was something I was capable of anymore. With my asthma, my feeding tube, and all the health concerns that followed me everywhere, I never quite felt like I fit in with kids my age. I wasn't sure how I was supposed to survive in the woods, surrounded by strangers, in a place that would test both my physical and emotional limits. But here I was, standing on the dirt path to the cabins, fighting the lump in my throat.

The heat was sweltering as the sun beat down on the campgrounds, but my body was used to the cold, the soft comfort of air conditioning, and the constant worrying that had always been a part of my life. I pulled my sweatshirt tighter around me, hoping the fabric would give me some semblance of comfort. I wasn't sure I was ready to deal with all of this—new faces, new experiences, the uncertainty of everything.

Suddenly, the sound of someone's boots crunching on the gravel broke my thoughts.

"Hey! Are you Mary?" The voice was smooth and calm, almost like she had been expecting me.

I turned to see her, a woman with short-cropped hair, dressed in a loose, masculine shirt and cargo shorts. Her arms were muscular, the kind of toned strength that came from being active outdoors. Her eyes were sharp, dark, and inquisitive, but there was a kindness to them that immediately put me at ease. She was standing a little too close for my comfort, but there was something about her presence that made me feel safe in a way I didn't understand.

"Yeah," I answered quietly, my voice barely above a whisper. I felt self-conscious, like I was too small for this big, open place.

"I'm Lorraine. I go by Lo, though." She gave me a smile that was both confident and warm. She extended a hand, and I hesitated for just a second before shaking it. Her grip was firm, but not overly so—like she was trying to communicate strength without making me feel small.

Her presence was almost overwhelming in its calmness. I wasn't used to that.

"Are you my counselor?" I asked, blinking in the sunlight.

Lo nodded. "Yeah. I'm your camp counselor. Looks like we're bunkmates for the summer." Her smile was playful, but I could see a certain edge to it, a look that made me wonder if she was used to being the one in charge. "How's the first day treating you?"

I opened my mouth to respond, but the words stuck in my throat. How was my first day treating me? Honestly, not great. "It's fine," I said quickly, not wanting to sound whiny. "I'm just... getting used to it all."

Lo tilted her head, studying me with those dark, knowing eyes. There was a sense of unspoken understanding in her expression, but I wasn't sure what it meant yet.

"You'll get used to it," she said confidently. "This place has a way of making you feel at home, even when it doesn't seem like it at first."

I didn't know if I believed her, but I nodded anyway. It felt easier to just go along with it.

She gestured behind her, where a small cabin sat nestled between two tall trees. "Your cabin's over there. It's got everything you need—just unpack your stuff, and you're free to explore until dinner. I'm here if you need anything."

I followed her gaze, my heart beating a little faster as I saw the other cabins scattered across the camp. It felt like a whole new world—one that I had no idea how to navigate.

Lo must have noticed my hesitation because she laughed lightly, her voice soothing and warm. "Don't worry. You'll be fine. You can do this. If you need anything, just let me know. And if you want to, I can show you around later."

I couldn't help but notice the way her voice softened when she said those words—there was a certain familiarity in it, like she wasn't just offering help, but making sure I felt comfortable. Safe. It was a strange feeling, something I wasn't sure I deserved but somehow couldn't push away.

I took a breath and nodded. "Thanks, Lo."

"Of course, butterfly," Lo said with a teasing grin. "You're gonna love it here. You'll see."

I wasn't sure about the loving it, but her words brought a sense of comfort to my fluttering chest. Butterfly. It felt strange, being called that by her. Like the nickname meant something more than just a cute comparison. I wasn't sure if I liked it yet, but I couldn't deny the warmth it left in me.

As I made my way toward the cabin, I could hear Lo's footsteps behind me, and the sound of her voice, faint but comforting, as she talked to another counselor about where to find the best spots around camp. My mind wandered, distracted by the constant buzzing of my thoughts.

The camp was alive with the sound of laughter, shouting, and the occasional crash of something falling to the ground. The air smelled of pine trees and fresh earth—so different from the sterile smells of hospitals and doctors' offices. For the first time in a long time, I felt something resembling freedom... Maybe I could do this.

The day stretched on, the sun hanging low in the sky as I unloaded my things into my bunk and laid down on the thin mattress. The window was open, letting in the cool breeze, but it wasn't enough to cool the heat that had started to settle in my chest. Lo's words—her soft yet firm tone, her steady presence—kept replaying in my mind.

I'm not sure if I'm ready for this summer...

But something deep down told me that with Lo around, maybe, just maybe, I could figure it out.