The air has a new hint of sweetness, coaxing me outside into its warm embrace.
I can’t seem to pick apart the different aromas surrounding my nose. They all mix together, forming a recipe for the outdoor summer air.
Life surrounds me in a way it hasn’t before; this feeling only comes around once a year. Trees blossom buds of all different colors, and as the buds open, they share their wonderful scents with the world, inviting everyone in.
The once dull landscape that surrounded me has now turned into a vibrant masterpiece that makes my eyes glimmer with wonder.
When life sprouts, I am filled with a newfound feeling of hope.
Everything about this season is perfection. I am no longer held by the confines of school, so my days can be spent dipping my toes into cool water as a warm summer breeze entangles my hair. I can lie on the beach and feel the sun seep into my skin, creating a tan. I can spend countless hours reading beneath a towering tree, shading me from the glare of the sun. This is the time when I am no longer bound to a strict schedule.
I feel free. Driving around with the windows down, allowing the gusts of wind to twist and ravel my hair with my hand sticking out is a feeling that can’t be described. The days filled with laughter and friends are unmatched though.
I feel at peace when I come home after a revitalizing day. I will take out a glass and fill it to the brim with ice, and then a mixture of water and cherry juice. As I pour in the juice, the water seems to explode with color and life. The red hue of the juice fades out into a slight pink and makes striations all throughout the water. I’ll mix the concoction with my metal straw, and the noise of the metal hitting the glass feels as if it could awaken the empty house because of the smothering quiet around me. Then, I’ll sit on our wooden bench, pressing my palms against the cold marble surface of the countertop as I sip on my drink.
Summer is a time of freedom. A time of life. A time of memories.
For me, summer begins the instantaneous moment that school gets out. I am no longer suffocated by the stress that school brings me. I am not held to a strict schedule or high expectations. I can spend my time outside, surrounded by life, instead of being restricted to four walls.
We are entering a season of laughter, friends, and endless possibilities—a time to savor every moment we are given and to relish in the simple pleasures of life.
