Phoenix Rising

The earsplitting sound of the alarm clock shocks Lara awake. Panting, Lara reaches over to shut off the annoying sound. Her nightmares have been getting worse lately but try as she might, all she can remember about them is an impending sense of dread and hopelessness. And pain. It's nothing to worry about, probably just nerves getting to me. Shaking off the uneasy feelings, Lara hops out of bed to get ready for her day. And a big day it was! It's not everyday that one turns 18, especially if that one is none other than Lara Peterson. In her excitement, Lara rushes through her morning routine in record breaking time and makes it downstairs before her mom has even finished cooking. "Lara! What's the rush? I haven't even finished making your birthday breakfast yet," Lara's mom, Emerald Peterson, pouts. "Sorry mom, I was just so excited I couldn't wait," Lara apologizes. Family tradition dictates that the birthday person must remain in their bed until breakfast is brought to them. Normally with a small cake and candles to jumpstart the birthday but today Lara just couldn't wait. Shaking her head, Lara's mom turns around and keeps working on the feast she's preparing. Lara lounges on the bar stool and watches her mother in awe. Emerald Peterson is what her male classmates refer to as a milf. With long, gorgeous brown curls that frame her heart-shaped face and bring out her emerald green eyes, her mother was indeed beautiful but that wasn't the only thing about her that was attractive. Her heart of gold and insatiable need to help anyone less fortunate are what truly make Emerald Peterson the gorgeous person she is. Emerald, alongside her husband, have opened up and donated to countless scholarships and charities in which they both actively participate in their spare time. Unable to have children of their own, they dedicated their lives to helping anyone one and everyone less fortunate. It was actually at one of their shelters that they came across Lara. Lara had been left at the shelter with little more than a blanket and a note with her name when she was but an infant. No one wanted anything to do with the golden eye child until Emerald saw her. She fell in love at first sight and the rest is history. Unlike most adopted children, Lara held no desire to seek out the family that abandoned her. She's had nothing but a happy, blissful life with very loving, doting parents. Cheerleader captian, super hot boyfriend, top marks in all her classes with a full ride scholarship to her college of choice, Lara had it all. Yeah and there is no room in my life for people who don't want me. Lara's father, Dearl Peterson, rushed down the stairs snapping Lara out of her train of thought. Hurrying into the kitchen, he stops dead in his tracks upon seeing Lara lounging at the kitchen bar. Quite a looker in his younger years, Dearl has since put on a little weight and with a balding head, he looks like a classic office man. One who looks like his heart was just shattered into a million pieces. Here we go again. "Good morning dad," Lara chirps. Instead of responding, he turns his head slowly towards his wife. With a slight shake of her head, Emerald finishes making plates and serves them at the bar. Gloomingly Dearl makes his way over to the bar and pops down next to Lara. "Good morning," Dearl mumbles as he starts to pick at his food. Feeling guilty about breaking tradition, Lara snuggles up to her dad with puppy-dog eyes. "I'm sorry daddy, I just couldn't wait any longer. Will you forgive me?" Staring into her eyes, Dearl let's out a sigh and wraps Lara in a hug. "I not mad, I just can't believe how big you've grown. It seems like only yesterday that we were bringing you home wrapped in your little blanket and now look at you!" Dearl pulls back to look at his daughter with tears in his eyes. "Gone is the little girl who would wait excitedly for her breakfast in bed," he said with a watery smile. "I no longer see a giggly toddler who would run to the door everytime I came home or the pre-teen would hide behind me during the scary movies she picked out," he chuckled. Staring into her golden eyes, also filled with tears, he continues, "I'm so very proud of the woman you've become and you don't know how thankful I am to have you as my daughter." Lara, who's now full blown crying, throws herself at the man who's done nothing but love her these last 18 years. "I love you too, daddy!" Crying, the hold each other until the lights cut off. Pulling back Lara's eyes are drawn towards the flames on the small cake her mom was bringing towards her. With tears in her eyes as well, Emerald lays the cake in front of Lara. "Make a wish," her mother whispers, gently wiping the tears off of Lara's face. PSmiling, Lara looks at both of her parents. Blowing out the candles, Lara turns to her parents with a grin, "Sorry but I couldn't think of anything to wish for so I just blew them out." Smiling, her parents grab her in a tight hug and Lara has been more content then she does now. But why can't she shake this uneasy feeling. Like this would be the last time they are gathered like this.