And We All Grew Up - We’ve Grown Up

Growing up on the beach, my life was like one neverending summer. I lived right off the shore, and when I say right off the shore, I mean barely a mile; I had the perfect view of the crashing white-capped tides and golden sand right from my bedroom window. Sounds perfect, right? Well, it was. Basically, every day I spent out on the shore, whether it was swimming or sunbathing or just taking a walk along the shallows, I was always there; it was a part of who I was.

267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuhIhiUJyXm

And the beach brought me companions, a pack of five of the most incredible people on the entire planet. We were inseparable, always together one way or another; they were the world to me, and I to them. For the first seventeen years of my life, everything was perfect, and I somehow believed that would last forever, or at least, I hoped it would.

267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWxxfNON4FT

But forever ended, as well as my neverending summer, with high school graduation and a letter bearing the news of a college scholarship within its carefully sealed envelope. This scholarship was huge for me; it was for my dream school, after all. Of course, there was the tiny issue of the school being across the country from everything I grew up with, but until the moment the envelope was in my hands, I was skeptical I'd even receive an acceptance letter, never mind a scholarship.

267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVuhSY2bqey

For the first ten minutes after I read that letter, it was all squeals and smiles and celebrating because, in those few minutes, my life seemed to be following on the right track; everything I'd always wanted finally in my grasp. But then, reality struck me like a train, and I realized that chasing after the life I'd always wanted would mean leaving the life I'd always had. It would mean leaving my friends, who had always been like a second family to me, my parents, who loved and supported me to no end, and my boyfriend, Alexander, who was always there for me, through thick and thin, no matter what.

267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡftHXv6TjMs

After a long and tough conversation with my parents, one that makes you feel way too mature than you really should be, I concluded that I was going to accept the scholarship; after all, this was my future we were talking about.

267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW7clZCrpj6

So here I am, on the rainy, drowsy morning of August twenty-fifth, taking one last look around the bedroom that I grew up in. That's right; this afternoon, I leave my hometown to study across the country for four years.

267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2PgaNNRwEa

Each of my friends came to say their goodbyes last night, presumably because they wanted to get it over and done with, not that I blame them; it would've probably been too overwhelming and emotional to have them come today.

267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡarHqquXfp2

I cross to the window and glance out upon the ocean, watching the murky waves roll over the sandy shore. Something captures my eye from my back porch, and I instantly recognize the figure as the boy I've loved for years.

267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡemTZdFyLU8

I'm outside in the rain in a second, my arms wrapping around his neck before either of us can say a word.

267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgEaM3KWkKe

"I'm going to miss you so much, Clara," he whispers into my hair, his voice quiet and grave as he presses me close.

267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡohJPXUt2DB

"I know," I draw back enough to see his stunning green eyes. "But we can call every day; we'll make it work."

267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡulZzCShTso

"But it won't be the same," he shakes his head and bites his lip. "I won't get to hold you like this, or kiss you, go on dates with you...Clara, I'm going to miss you every single minute."

267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1zXS6tkh5b

"I'll miss you too," I take a deep breath and try to swallow back the sob building up in my throat. "I'll be back for Thanksgiving, though, and Christmas. And next summer! I'll have the whole summer here."

267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhZrSTpP0Gx

He nods.

267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm0XiFkJR9X

"I love you, Clara, so much,"

267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhgszHdwdsF

"I love you, too, Alex," I whisper, my lip trembling as the tears finally take over.

267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB4rjhHN9Dz

He gives a sad smile, cupping my cheek in his palm and leaning in to capture my lips in a firm kiss. My fingers knot in his hair, rain trickling down the back of my shirt as I become enfolded in this embrace.

267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuEDin9aLMp

How long we stand there, drenched to the bone, with no other care in the world but each other, I don't know, but we eventually tear away, still gripping each other like a lifeline.

267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv8KPVJxG3O

"I have to go," I whisper, my voice thick with the tears lacing my throat.

267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA8LsLOEgoM

He nods, tilting over to place one final kiss as light as feathers on my lips.

267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNSZIzdplfD

"Call me when you land?"

267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO0ctokqT3n

Now it's my turn to nod before whispering one last I love you and turning my back on the boy with my heart in his hands.

267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡInUYq7vQlr

"Just like that," I can't help but murmur as I shut the door behind me, leaving behind the life I've always known. "We've grown up."

267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFQi2cNYK3F

267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmhODi2cBBh