The List [Discontinued] #TheFloraAwards2017

Prologue

As I look through my house's attic, just to explore, I stumble across a cardboard box with the words, "Emily's Stuff," on it. I gently open it, and begin to dig through it. I didn't know I still had this box. Well, the only smart thing to do is to go through it. I eventually find a wooden box inside of it, and pick it up. I think I recognize it, even with all the dust on it, but I blow the dust off anyway. I didn't know it's been that long.

I then remember that this was the box I stored my important treasures in. Things that were important to my family and I, and things that I will cherish forever. I open the old wooden box and stare inside it for a while, not wanting to touch anything, lest ruin the value of the memories that these items hold within them, but I eventually can't contain myself and start to look through it.

"My old family photos," I say, looking at the picture of me when I was 6 and just lost my two front teeth, sitting on my dad's shoulders at the beach when we drove to Florida that one time. There is another one of me when I was around 9 and just won my first spelling bee, and that one has me, my mom, my dad, and my older brother Oliver in it. In the picture, I look so happy with my humongous trophy. So does my family. I really miss them. They all died in a fatal car accident that I was also in back when I was 14, but I was the only one that survived. Now I live with my Aunt Natalia, who moved into my childhood home a few years ago. The same house I was living in before my parents died. It really brings back a lot of memories going through the attic of this place, and just walking around in it.

For about two years after my parents and brother died, I was in and out of foster homes, and didn't settle down with my aunt until I was 16, which was when she finally agreed to take me in. Then again, she had an excuse, because back when I was in foster care she was in the hospital trying to fight cancer. She won the battle, and now her cancer is gone. Her hair has already grown back from the chemo, even though it grew quite slowly. She is truly a fighter, and I love her for that. I also love her for deciding to have custody over me, even though she didn't have to and none of my other family members wanted to. I can't tell you how many times I have thanked her for taking me in.

I put the pictures back in the box and rummage through it some more, finding an old necklace. It belonged to my mother. I remember when it was given to me after it was confirmed that she was no longer living. Just a body, without a soul. This locket is the last thing that she was wearing, and I love it. I stare at the locket and open it. The beautiful gold necklace reveals a photo of my brother, Dad, Mom, and I. A beautiful family picture, even better than the "Spelling Bee" photo of us in the box. I smile at it, then close the locket, and begin to shift through the box some more. After a bit of searching and moving things around, I find a folded piece of paper in the corner of it. I pick up the piece of paper and unfold it, studying it before I read what is written on the front of it in my cursive handwriting.

The List:

This List is for me, Emily Olivia Jackson, to complete before my 18th birthday. It has 10 things to do on it because 10 is my favorite number.

1. Go on a date
2. Get a boyfriend
3. Take a long walk on the beach with my new boyfriend at sunset
4. Have my first kiss
5. Get my drivers license
6. Get drunk and do drunk stuff
7. Fly in an airplane
8. Go to a concert
9. Go cliff diving
And most importantly...
10. Lose my virginity

"This is the list I wrote when I was 13 of what to do before my 18th birthday! I have yet to complete a single thing on it, and my 18th birthday is only 60 days away! I promised mom before she died that I would complete it in honor of her, since some things on the list she never got to do, and some of the things she got to do and wanted me to have a better life than she did by doing the things she did and more, and I only have 60 days to do it! I have to get Avery to help me..." I say, taking a breath after that very long statement, putting the list in my pocket and closing the box. I am so excited. I must complete The List.

I run out of the attic, taking the box with me of course, climb the ladder to get down, and pull the string to put the ladder back into its hole in the ceiling. I then run past the kitchen, into the living room, where my aunt is, down the hallway, and into my room. After sitting on my bed and thinking more about the list, I FaceTime my best friend Avery, and tell her all about the old piece of paper, and the words portrayed on it. I just hope I'll be able to complete it before my 18th birthday...

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Word Count: 967