Safe

The Beach

We get into the car to go to the mall. Amelia gets a stroller for Lily. I know Lily won't be able to make it the entire the time. We walk to Justice one of my favorite stores. There is this absolutely adorable neon pink and sparkly swim suit. Lily tries it on with the sandals. It is perfect. I find a beautiful blue takini. It try it on with matching sandals. It is so beautiful. We get some cover ups too. For once in a long time I feel like a kid. I don't have to worry about cooking the next. I don't have to worry about my dad coming home drunk. I am just an eleven year-old.

We past by a pretzels spot. She buys us pretzels. We all get cinnamon pretzels. It is soo good. I take in the sweetness of it all. The sweetness of the sugar and cinnamon coated pretzels. The sweetness of Amelia's presence. The sweetness of the day. I am happy.

We walk around the mall. We look around. It is fun.

We get into the car and we head to Lake Michgan. Amelia has a DVD player in her car. She pops in a princess movie. It is frozen. I haven't seen this movie before neither has Lily. But we thoroughly enjoy. I really like Elsa. She is so powerful. She is not hiding anything. She doesn't cower in fear. I decide that is what I want to be. I want to be Elsa. I want to be free. I know I will be soon.

We arrive at the beach. The wave roll in. The sun is shinning bright in the big blue sky. It is breath-taking. I smile. I look at the sand. When the waves meet the sand there are little bubbles of foam. We park and get out of the car. The smells hit me all at once. I can smell the fresh water air. The crispness of the warm set sand. Everything is picturesque.

I help Amelia get all of the stuff for the picnic. We walk to a spot a little bit out. It is along the shore. We sit down.

"Do you want to eat or play in the water?"

I look at Lily. She whispers, " Water."

"Yeah, the water," I repeat.

"Okay."

We take off our cover ups and head to the water. The water is cold. I recoil when my feet first touch it. I step back into the water. The foam tickles my toes. The warm sun beats against my skin. I step further into the water. The coolness of it laps at my legs. It feels good against the contrast of the hot sun. Lilly follows me into the water. Amelia trails both of us. I am now about knee deep into the water. The water is about high thigh deep almost hip deep in the water. Lily and I play in the water. We dance around. I splash her and Amelia. We play in the water. It is cool and refreshing instead of the frigid cold it felt like at first. I feel so happy and free. I feel more like a child today than I have in years. I am so happy. I am crying. The beach. Safety. Lily. Amelia. It is all so very wonderful. It is overwhelming. Amelia walks over to me.

"Why are you crying?"

"Because I am so happy. This is the best day I have had in a long long time," I stammer in a breathy way.

"I am glad."

Amelia's face lights up with exuberant smile. She is beautiful with her stormy sea grey eyes, her long brown hair, and her joyful and spontaneous attitude. She reminds me so much of my mother. She has that same joy that my mother always had. She has that same smile . That same optimism. That twinkle in her eye. Something about Amelia makes feel like she is just a really cool big sister. She makes me feel at home. I think I really like her, and I don't want to leave.

After playing in the water for awhile, we decide to go eat our lunch. The sandwiches were really good. Amelia told us to wait their why she journeyed to other side of the beach to get some ice-cream. She came back with three ice cones. They tasted delicious. I love it. This day at the beach is perfect

The sun droops in the sky lower and lower. We watch the picturesque sunset. It is amazing. There is fireworks after that. We rinse of the sand. We pack up all of the the beach stuff and load them into the car. We get into the car. Lily falls asleep almost instantly. Amelia turns on some fun party music. We car dance the entire ride back to her house.

"Amelia."

"Yes."

"Thank-you for the best day I 've had in a long time."

Here I am crying again, because of the happiness. I can't help it. The beach was wonderful.