Summer's Love

Chapter 1 -Unknown POV- I open my eyes, they feel heavy. It's so bright I can't see anything.I squeeze my eyes closed tightly and then try to flutter them to adjust to the brightness. With my hands over my eyes I look through my fingers. As my eyes focus it appears that I am inside a hard plastic bubble. I'm laying on a cold metal cot. It's LOUD and it feels like I'm trapped in a giant industrial fan. My brain feels like it's on fire. I reach my hands up to cover my ears, it's like a thousand high pitched screams in my ears. As I reach my hands up… BOOM!!! Ugh! My body is slammed against the hard clear plastic, my body quickly drops back onto the metal cot. It’s like my ears are bleeding now from all the noise. The wind gets louder, I suddenly feel weightless like I’m falling. I open my eyes, the wind is pushing so forcefully into my face. All I can see is blue and green blurs as I spin around in circles. I force myself to open my eyes again and focus, I'm falling. SCREAMS! I'm filled with panic. All I can see below me is water. Shifting my body around so that at least when I hit I'll go feet first into the water. I hold my body tight and hold my breath, how did this happen? SPLASH! The water closed up around me with such force I let all the air I was holding out and breathed in the water. I felt the water start to push pressure around my chest and body. I torpedo down deeper and deeper, the water is getting darker. I felt my body slow and start to float upward, I tried to swim toward the surface. I was able to get myself to the surface, but I couldnt will my body to swim to shore. As I lay there floating on the surface of the water, my body sore from the crash landing, the water slapping against my face. The water is not salty so I must be in a lake. Even though it is the middle of May the water still isn't overly warm, but I wasn't freezing. I try to retrace my steps to remember how I got here. It was like I was missing a portion of time or memory. It's just starting to get dark. It must be getting close to 7pm or 8pm. I suddenly hear a quiet voice. It's okay, just rest now. Was that voice in my head?! ----------------Earlier that day.----------------------- -Unknown- Summer! You're going to be late for the bus! Vivan yelled from the doorway. I jumped up from my chair realizing I fell asleep while putting my shoes on. I normally sleep like a rock but last night it was like my body was on fire and I kept having these very vivid nightmares of shadows chasing me. My bedroom was like most teenagers. I had a few band posters and some family pictures scattered about my walls. I had a very comfortable twin sized bed with light blue bedding. I had my bed in the far corner of the room, my desk across from it. I had a small black wood frame desk with enough room for my laptop and my school books to sit without trouble. This morning I was a bit drained so I threw my wild blonde hair in a messy bun, grabbed a simple navy blue v-neck t-shirt, and some blue jeans that were fitted at the ankle. I slipped my black converses on and laced them up. Guessing by the sound of Vivan I must have got comfortable in my desk chair and nodded off. I'm sorry Vivan I overslept today. I called out from my room. I grab my book bag and head out of my bedroom door. The house is a cute brick home with two stories, it's a three bedroom with three bathrooms. The stairway is in the center of the loft, Vivans and Danny's room is on the opposite side of mine and takes up that entire side of the loft. Their room is huge with its own private bathroom and walk-in closet. The second bathroom is between my room and the spare bedroom. The bathroom has two white pearl colored sinks, with a matching large garden tub, a stand alone shower, and of course a toilet. When I first came to live with Vivan and Danny I was 6 years old and they asked me what I would like to decorate the bathroom in. I asked for everything to be white fur. So Danny went out that day and searched the entire town and the next one over till he found white fur rugs. It was late afternoon when he made it back to the hospital but he wanted to make sure I approved of the rugs . There is one large rug in front of the two sinks, one in front of the tub, toilet, and the shower. The hand towels are white plush, because that was the closest to white fur Danny could find for towels. The spare bedroom has a queen size bed in the center of the room with dark blue bedding. The closet is on the far wall of the room. A single nightstand made of dark wood on the opposite side of the bed from the closet. At the foot of the bed a dark wooden chest filled with comforters and blankets. I quickly rush down the stairs toward the front door. Vivan is a kind and beautiful woman, she's an RN at the local hospital. She has her long beautiful dark brown hair pulled up into a messy bun on top of her head. She was removing her coat revealing her petite body. She's at most 5’3, the same height as me. She works nights. I don't see her much during the school semesters, mostly in the mornings if I’m running late and she gets home early from work. Today was the first time I had actually seen her in nearly a week. She was still by the front door when I made it down the stairs. Have a good nap Vivan, see you this afternoon. I say as I go to walk out the front door. Vivan reaches out and grabs my arm firmly and pulls me into her and hugs me tightly. I’m shocked at the sudden embrace, but quickly hug her back. She smells of sweet pea body spray and sanitizer. We stand there for a few moments while she just holds me tight. Vivan, are you okay? I ask softly. Vivan pulls away from the hug, but never lets me go. I look into her dark brown eyes and she has tears at the ready. Vivan whats wrong? Vivan takes a quick breath in. I prayed for you, I wanted nothing more in the world. I wanted a beautiful baby girl like you. I knew I would physically never be able to, adoption processes were so lengthy but then everything changed after the fire and then you came into my life. You have been such a blessing, and here it is your birthday. I’ve completely forgotten to plan anything, and the first thing I said to you was that you were late and I didnt even say good morning or acknowledge it being your birthday. At this point Vivan was in full blown tears and crying. I hugged her again. Vivan? She quietly answered yes in between sobs. I know since Danny passed it's been hard on you. If i’m completely honest I forgot too. At this point Vivan had stopped crying and collected herself. Since Danny Vivans husband passed away in a car accident at the end of school semester last year she hadn’t really been the same. She used to be very bubbles and rainbows, now she is overworked and tired. I asked her if I could get a summer job to help her with money, but Vivan and Danny were/are strong believers of school IS a job and it requires work and rest. As we stood in the breezeway of the doorway, Vivan looked over at the family picture of us with Danny that hung on the hallway wall next to the staircase. My summer was filled with college classes, studying, and solitude. Vivan looked back at me and smiled. I am just so proud of you. She choked out while trying not to cry again. Ahm. She cleared her throat. Summer. I have something exciting to tell you. I looked at her and raised my eyebrows. Everything is paid off! She squealed. I tilt my head a bit to the side. What? I am completely confused about what she is saying. Vivan cradled my face with her hands. Summer, the house, the cars, the loans, everything! We made it to the point that we can breathe easy! She shouted with excitement. Danny had a life insurance policy, but because of the lack of details from the wreck and some mismarked paperwork at the morgue it wasn't paid out to Vivan it was held up in a paperwork jam. Vivan and Danny had made a plan back when they set up their policies that if one or both of them passed they would use the money to pay for the funeral home loan payments, and pay off everything else so that the remaining family members could live comfortably. This was all the plan until the life insurance was held up for several months, and the bills didn’t stop coming in. Vivan had been working extra shifts at the hospital since the accident to try to cover all the bills since the loss of Danny and the loss of income. I smiled at Vivan and held her hands that she still had on my face. Vivan put her hands down and walked over to the living room that was to the left of the breezeway. She flopped on the couch and laid across it. She just seemed to have this vibe of a sudden relaxation like everything that was bothering her just melted away after saying everything about the bills being paid and done. I smiled and turned to pull the front door open to let her continue to have her moment, Vivan shot straight up. Summer! She hollered. I snapped my head to look at her. Can I drive you to school? Vivan asked with such excitement. Yes? I answered questionably. -Vivan- Did I chart that before I left, ugh turn signal people! Hmm oh okay yay almost home, gosh I’m so tired. Vivan pulled the car into her driveway. She parked her car on the right side of the driveway. She stepped out of her 2019 chevy Cruze that was always neatly kept. She checked the mailbox at the end of the driveway, which had multiple envelopes. Oh God there is so much mail, ugh I don't even want to open these their probably bills they say urgent. Arghh I know I’m not behind on all of these, oh it’s the life insurance company. Lord, it's postmarked for last week. I better open this first. Vivan quickly skimmed through the letter. We are so very sorry for your loss, but we wish to thank you for using our company for your life insurance needs/coverage. We have contacted the designated offices/companies that were listed in your file and have sent checks to those companies directly per your/your loved ones wishes. Attached is the check with the remaining balance of your life insurance policy. Thank you and best wishes. -Narration- Vivan just stands in front of the door to the house holding the letter almost in disbelief that finally months after losing her husband and working 80+ hours every week that everything can settle down a little and she can just take a moment to breathe. While standing outside at the doorway she called her hospital and requested to be PRN until further notice and that she was taking the next two weeks off completely to spend time with her daughter. Vivan quickly read the rest of the mail, all of them were statements of loan fulfilment. She then opened the door to her now fully paid for home, and realized her daughter is still home and running very late.