Looking for a Story

Camilla woke up with a checklist on her mind. Go to work Pick up groceries Make cupcakes for Mom’s birthday Wrap gift Sleep Simple enough. She had a hop in her step as she got ready for the day. She was out of the house with ten minutes to spare. Just enough time to get coffee before going in to work. That was her first mistake. She bumped into the man in front of her. "Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry - head in the clouds." He looked her up and down. "I can tell." He turned away gruffly, his coffee now on the floor. "Please let me buy you a new one." She spoke softly but confidently. The man sighed. "I suppose that would be nice." Camilla quickly paid for the new coffee and her caramel latte and rushed out of the shop. She would still be on time for work if she didn't get stopped by... A train. Of course. Well, at least she had her coffee. She took the time to enjoy the drink while she waited. Once she could move again, she was officially 20 minutes late. She raced to work, parked in the worst spot in the parking lot and flung open her door. Unfortunately, she spilled what was left of her coffee all over the inside of her car. "Well, no one can accuse me of being late for a cup of coffee." Camilla forced a smile and hoped the mess won't be too bad eight hours from now. Opening the office doors fully out of breath she called out, "I'm here, sorry there was a train." Her boss looked displeased. "Stay a few minutes late to make up for it. Understood?" 'Yes sir." She nodded and quickly made it to her desk. And opened up the files she needed to edit. Only all the files were corrupted. She sighed and called tech support over to her desk "Please tell me I don't have to call the client..." She really disliked this client; he was a pain and nothing was ever his fault. Her tech guy gave her a sad look. "I'll send you an email you can forward to him and maybe it will help." "Thanks." She sighed and picked up the phone. Four hours later, she got off the phone with him. She was exhausted. And was grateful for her lunch break. She went and sat at one of the benches outside, hoping to have a moment of peace before going back to work. "Camilla, is that you?" Camilla’s stomach dropped; it was Christopher. He was from marketing and he was just…a lot. "Maybe." She tried to keep her voice light. "It is! How is ya doing, pretty lady?" "Just fine Chris. Just trying to enjoy a moment's peace before my crazy day continues.” She hoped he'd get the hint. He didn't. Instead, he sat with her and talked all through her lunch hour. After that, she got lectured by her boss again. According to him, what happened with the files was her fault…somehow. She ended up staying well after closing, just to make up for lost time. When she made it to her car, everything was still sticky from her spilled drink this morning. "I don't have time for this.” She found a blanket in her trunk, laid it over the seat, and headed to the store. The store was out of a few key favourites, but she could find a couple of alternatives for the cupcakes she was planning to make. The cashier was clearly having just as bad a day as she was, so Camilla tried to be friendly and kind. "Reusable bags, ma'am?" The cashier spoke shortly. "Oh shoot, I left them at home. I'll buy two paper bags." The cashier rolled her eyes and handed her two bags. Camilla paid and quickly packed up her groceries. She dashed to her car. She was behind schedule but she could catch up. Traffic was painfully slow but she was almost home. Once she got home she climbed the stars back up to her apartment. She struggled to get her keys out of her pocket and then she heard it - ri-i-i-ip - and several objects tumbled down. She looked down and there was flour, sprinkles, icing sugar and milk everywhere. The property manager was gonna flip... She quickly dashed inside, grabbed paper towels and tried to clean up the milk before it made everything else sticky. As she mopped, tears pricked at her eyes. She squeezed them tight. But she couldn't stop then. She cried out the stress of the day. She looked up and saw a little boy looking at her. If Camilla remembered correctly, he was her neighbour in the apartment across the hall. "Are you okay?" "No, I'm not…" she said through tears. "One second!" The boy dashed inside his apartment and dashed back out. "Here! Candy always makes me feel better!" He handed her a wrapped candy. She was about to say thank you when… "Jonny! You can't just take candy and run out... Oh my." Jonny's mom rushed to her side. "Are you okay?" Camilla laughed and looked around. "It's been a day." "Let us help you clean up. Jonny, go get the vacuum." The little boy ran back to his apartment again. The woman helped Camilla pick up the groceries and placed them on the counter. Camilla found a broom and together they cleaned the hall. Once the mess was cleaned up, Camilla put the groceries where they belonged. She sent in an online order to the bakery her mom loved and simply went to bed. She was so done with today. Maybe when she was at the bakery tomorrow she would pick up some treats for the family next door as a thank you. She bet the little boy would like their chocolate chip cookies… But tomorrow would be a new day.

Before Penny and Andrew knew it, they had been in Twin Crescent for four years, and in those four years, something had changed between them. It happened sometime after they opened the community centres. They never really spoke about it though; they held hands when they walked around town, their dances got more romantic, they cuddled while listening to music, they greeted each other and parted ways with kisses on the hand or cheek, and both were dreaming of what a future together would look like. Andrew sat with Henry, each of them enjoying a cup of coffee while Alice and Penny went shopping for a gala the studio was hosting for a new exhibit called “Heroes in Our Midst.” The girls had made it a group effort and encouraged people to submit photos of everyday heroes; all the profits were going to go to the community centres. Andrew and Henry kindly opted out of this trip, choosing the coffee shop instead. Henry leaned back and asked Andrew a question, which he had been expecting. "So level with me dude, what is the deal with you and Penny?" "What do you mean, my man?" Andrew sipped his coffee, smiling and knowing where this was going. "You call her Pen, Penny, and many other names. But, I've never heard you call her beautiful or sweetheart or any other traditional dating names... Come to think of it, I've never even heard you call her your girlfriend." He set his cup on the table, waiting for Andrew to answer. "I never asked her to be. You know we both were in love before we came here...so using those names just felt wrong. Those names belonged to Sophie. And I won't give them to Pen - she and Sophie were best friends... I never want her to feel like she's replaced her." Andrew shugged. “Also for the longest time, I think we both felt bad at the thought of moving on.” “I guess I never really thought about what it would be like to get pulled from another world and leave everything behind…." Henry looked down like he was lost in thought. “Penny and I didn’t get to choose that we left, but we have made the best of it. And I plan to keep making the best of it.” Andrew pulled a box out of his bag. “Dude is that…” Henry looked at him with wide eyes. Andrew opened it to show a simple gold ring. “Yep, I’m just waiting for the right moment to ask her.” He closed the box with a dopey grin and placed it back into his bag. “Wow, good thing I have a ring for Alice. She’d lose it on me if Penny got a ring before she did.” Henry laughed. Andrew joined in. “Still planning on asking her after the gala?” “Actually, I’m gonna ask her tonight - just feels right.” Henry shrugged. “And gives me less time to be nervous.” “Well, she is going to say yes, so you got this.” Andrew smiled at Henry. He couldn’t help but think of Trevor. It was odd to think of getting married without him at his side, and even more so to think of marrying Penny, the girl Trevor had been ready to give up family for. Before Andrew could get too lost in thought, Penny and Alice walked through the door, laughing, smiling, and holding the bags of who-knows-what. Andrew and Henry shared a smile and waved their girls over. After getting the girls their coffee fix, all four headed to the theatre to see the play Andrew had written a few songs for. Both couples walked hand in hand, Alice and Henry walking ahead of Penny and Andrew. As they got close to the theatre, a group of thugs ran by them. Penny looked at Andrew. Flame, why is it that being a hero always interrupts date night? We could just call the police? It wasn’t uncommon for them to practise what they preached at schools and call the police; they didn’t want Twin Crescent to be dependent on them. However, as Penny was about to agree, the police ran past them. So much for that idea… Andrew sighed as he looked ahead and saw that Henry had led Alice into the theatre. “Come on.” Andrew pulled Penny into an ally that had a side door leading to his office. Both of them changed into their costumes and then slipped into the alley. They greeted the officers. “How can we help?” Flame asked as they ran alongside the police. “Anything to slow them down would be great!” one of the clearly worn-out officers answered. Flame and Petal shared a look; the thugs were clearly slowing down, so Flame tossed his shield and it tripped up two of the three. Petal used some parkour moves and her lasso to catch the last one. Flame paused and watched Petal fly through the air; watching her courage and confidence, he knew he loved her. He couldn’t deny it. He was helplessly, hopelessly, in love with her. Soon everything was back under control. Once they checked in with the police, the two slipped into the theatre. They changed and fixed their hair, and Penny touched up her makeup. Penny looked over at Andrew and offered him her hand. He took her hand and kissed it. “Pen, wait.” “Andy, we’re gonna miss the curtain call. Alice and Henry will get suspicious…” She pulled on his hand slightly. “I know, I know, but this can’t wait.” He pulled her into a hug. “I love you Penny, and I need you to know.” “Oh, Andrew!” She hugged him tighter. “I love you too.” She quickly kissed him. Then she giggled. “Come on, we need to go.” He smiled and glanced at his bag. The ring could wait a bit longer. *** A few weeks after the theatre incident, Penny and Andrew were on one of their favourite types of date nights - a trip to the Market. They walked around, holding hands and giggling at the different things they found. Penny paused to look at a sunhat she had been eyeing for weeks. It had a soft yellow ribbon tied around it. Andrew watched her and took in her outfit; he noticed that the yellow in the hat matched the yellow flowers in her skirt - it would be a perfect pair. "Sir, I would like to buy my lady the hat she can't stop eyeing." He laughed. "Andy! You don't have to!" She quickly took it off, blushing and slightly embarrassed. "Pen, you've looked at that hat every time we've come to the Market in the past three weeks. Let me treat you." He handed the man the money. "There - can't take it back now." She leaned over and kissed him. She’d hardly kissed him in public so this must have made her happy. The smile that the hat brought her was worth it. Hand in hand, they finished their walk around the Market and headed to their spot in the park by the pond. Andrew and Penny sat watching the sunset over the water. Penny rested her head on his shoulder and took his hand. Andrew smiled and slowly pulled the ring box out of his pocket. He cleared his throat. “Penny, here - this is for you.” He handed her the small box. “Another gift, Andy! My birthday isn’t for a few weeks. You spoil…” She opened the box. “Oh my….Andy?” She turned and looked at him. “Penny, I know we’ve been through so much, and we have made an amazing life here. So, please do me the honour of marrying me?” Andrew looked at her, with a soft smile. “Oh Andrew, absolutely!” She gave him a hug that knocked the wind out of him. “Here - put it on me!” She handed the box back to him, and he put the ring on her finger. “Oh, it’s perfect!” She kissed him. That evening, the two sat and planned their wedding. As the sun fully set and darkness covered the park, they walked back to their shared bike. And for a moment, they let the sadness of being so far from home weigh on them. *** Their wedding had taken several months to plan. They also had been asked to be a part of Alice and Henry's wedding, so they learned about the wedding traditions of Twin Crescent. They wanted to honour their past from Arcadia but also enjoy the new life they’d found in Twin Crescent. One of the harder moments for Penny had been choosing her actual wedding dress. She’d always planned on wearing her mother's dress, with Sophie modifying it; so the thought of buying a wedding dress was harder than she'd expected. But Alice and Andrew worked together to find a dress that looked like her mom’s and yet was unique. Andrew arranged for Alice, Betty, and Jennifer to help her find her dress. Andrew and Penny arranged to have a “first look;” they took this moment to take pictures with their superhero masks on. Their bruises had faded and no longer hurt, and people no longer asked about them; but for these pictures they let their bruises be a focus, showing how far they had come. Penny walked herself down the aisle, with Andrew, Henry, Jonathan, Alice and Betty all waiting for her. Andrew gave Penny a locket with a promise written inside, which was one of the traditions of Twin Crescent; Penny in return gave him a watch with a promise written on the back. They said the vows they had grown up hearing in Arcadia.

"Love?" Alex calls out. "I'm going to go through the attic to see what we can donate.'' "Sounds good, Babe! I'll go through the garage. Meet for a break in two hours?" Jarad shouts back. "Sounds good!" Alex ascends the ladder to the attic. "So much dust.” She quickly finds the light and plops herself in front of a box. As she pulls back the cardboard, the smell of old worn leather fills the small space. "Oh man, I loved this jacket in high school! I wonder..." She quickly puts the jacket on. "Oh wow!" While she can’t move a lot in the jacket, it still fits. She sits and enjoys the smell of the leather for a moment. She puts her hands in the pockets. Then she feels something in one of the pockets. She pulls it out to find a ticket stub. Alex brings a hand to her mouth. "I thought I'd lost this... " She looks at the old ticket. "The first play Jacob ever took me to." They’d been together for all of two months. "Oh, Jake, I am so excited to see Peter Pan! This is the best Christmas present ever." Alex clung to his arm while they waited in line. “Ya, it will be great. " Jacob laughed under his breath and rubbed the back of his neck. He glanced around the theatre. "So, you really love this kinda thing?" "I do! It's so amazing how the actors can take on a whole other world." She looked at him, a realization dawning on her. "You like theatre too, right? I would hate to think you spent money on something you won't enjoy too." "Me?" He chuckled nervously. "I love theatre. It's great.” He looked away quickly. Alex let out a breath. "Oh good!" Jacob was saved from more questions due to it being their turn in line. Once they found their seats, Alex pored over the program, seeing who was who and where they had studied. “Jacob, look! Half of them went to my dream school!" “You want to be an actor?" Jacob glanced at the list of schools in the program. "I'd like to make costumes." Alex turned to the costume designer’s page. "You sew?" Jacob was surprised; how had this not come up? "I do, I don't like to talk about it." She closed the program. "I'd love to see your work sometime." Jacob took her hand. "I made the dress I'm wearing. I wanted a dress that worked with my jacket." She blushed. "Oh, wow.." Jacob took her in. "I knew you looked good, but that's incredible!" Alex's blush deepened. "Shh, the show’s starting." They watched the show, holding hands. Jacob was surprised to find how quickly the first act went by. "That was amazing! I've never seen something like that before." He stood and stretched. Alex giggled. "Have ya never seen a play before?" Jacob looked down. "Um…well, I'm gonna go get in line for the washroom." He quickly darted off. Alex chucked and flipped through the program again. Jacob made it back but just as the second act started. Again the time flew by. After the show was over, Jacob and Alex walked over to a coffee shop near the theatre. "So when ya gonna tell me the truth?" Alex smirked at him. "Tell you what?" Jacob's voice got tight. “That up until today, you'd never set foot in a theatre?" "I... I..." Jacob sighed. "Alright, you caught me, I didn't know how much you loved theatre. Mom just suggested the play as a Christmas gift." He looked down. "Hey, I'm not mad, I just wished you'd been honest with me. But you liked it, right?" Alex slid her hand across the table. "It really was amazing. I can see why you enjoy it so much." Jacob placed his hand on hers. "I'm glad. This was a really great date." Alex lets out a happy sigh as she remembers that date. "Babe, ya comin’ for our break?" Jacob interrupts her thoughts. "It's been two hours already?" Alex gasps. "You got lost in memories, didn't you?" Jacob teases. "Maybe…" Alex giggles. "Alright, after our break we're gonna work together. Because you can't be trusted not to get distracted and again." He laughs. "Fair enough." She slips off the jacket and places it back in the box, but slips the ticket stub in her pocket. She will show Jacob over their snack.

An old warrior was sitting near the river, enjoying the peace of the day, when the Leader came to see him. “I have a mission for you.” “Oh?” The warrior raised an eyebrow. “I have a child who needs help getting to her family.” The Leader looked over to the woods. “She doesn’t have an easy path, and I don’t want her to travel alone. Will you accompany her?” “I will. What do I need to know?” The Leader gestured for him to follow and showed him a young family. “They don’t know what’s about to happen, how much their life is about to change. But they can handle it.” The warrior looked at the couple and then at the Leader. “Will you be with them? It won’t be easy for them either.” The Leader rested a hand on the warrior's shoulder. “You know I am always with my people.” The Leader’s smile was kind and gentle, like always. “Of course.” When the man looked back at the couple, he saw them sitting in a hospital room, worry etched on their faces; neither one was speaking, but both were praying. It was time for him to go. He walked through the woods until he came across a little girl looking lost and scared. “Hello there, Little One." The warrior bent down to talk to the little girl. "What's going on?" The little girl looked around, confused. "I'm here to help you get home.” He offered her his hand. "Your family is waiting for you." "My family?" She asked as they walked down the bumpy path. The warrior smiled. "Yes, your family." The little girl tripped. "This isn't going to be easy, is it?" The warrior looked down. " No, it's not, but I won't leave you." “What’s my family like?” She asked as if trying to distract herself. “Oh, they are very wonderful. They have been praying and preparing for you!” He explained. “I can’t wait to meet them.” The little girl glowed. The sky grew a bit darker. "What's happening?" The little girl called out, clinging to the warrior's hand. "Don't worry, it's just a storm." He held up his shield to block the wind as best he could. "Don't give up on me?" She nodded and fought against the winds with the warrior's help. The winds died in town, and they didn’t have to fight as hard to walk. "Do you help all the kids get to their families?" the little girl asked. The warrior beamed. “I do. Not every child's path looks the same." "Is it scary?" She tripped gain, so he slowed his pace. "Sometimes. It can be hard sometimes.” He looked around the woods. The storm was coming back and this time with a vengeance. "Sir, I'm tired. Can we stop walking?" The little girl sat down on the ground. The warrior helped her up. "No, Little One, we need to keep moving. You have to keep fighting. We'll be there soon." They walked for a bit longer but the storm was too great and the little girl couldn’t do it anymore. The warrior picked up the little girl; she weighed almost nothing. "Don't give up on me, Little One. We'll get you home." Soon he reached the edge of the forest. A light shone around them, and when the warrior opened his eyes he was in a hospital room. He turned and saw Little One in a glass case with tubes, wires, and needles. He smiled and looked at her. "So that's what you look like, so small. I knew we'd make it, Little One." Soon the girl's parents arrived and stood gazing at her. “She looks more like you than she does me,” her mom commented. “Means she’ll get your attitude,” her dad teased. Then her mom sighed. "She's perfect." Her eyes glowed. "She really is." Her dad took his wife’s hand. “Those little holes are for you to put your hands inside,” a nurse told them. Her mom carefully slipped her hand in. “Hi Baby, it’s me. Your mom. And this…” The husband slipped his hand in. "...Is your dad.” He smiled, with tears in his eyes. The warrior watched the little family share a moment. Then the doctor came in. The warrior listened to the doctor talked about risks and what little one would need in order to go home. Her parents had to leave and go back to the waiting room. The warrior walked over to the little case and watched them leave. “Don’t worry, I’ll watch over her.” He looked down at Little One. "You're a fighter. Trust me, you got this." He stayed watching over the little girl till she was ready to go home. He watched every victory, every setback, every tear cried. He felt the strength from all the ones who prayed for that little girl. He knew the Leader was with this little family. Soon he needed to help another child. “Don’t worry Little One, I’ll check on you again.” He waved and slipped back to the woods.

Aurora lived in a world where emotions were sold in little bottles. You couldn't feel without them. There were so many emotions to choose from - happiness, anger, contentment, lethargy. You could buy bottles with potions that release over time, and you could have short-term bottles delivered weekly. Or, you could pick them up at any store. Unless you were Aurora. Her mother forbade her from having emotions. She was not to buy them. So in all the seventeen years she'd lived, she'd never felt anything. She didn't mind though. She'd seen emotions cause her friends to do stupid and rash things. And she'd learned to fake emotions, no one she knew she’d never truly felt anything before. She could smile, laugh and even cry with her friends, but she always felt numb. And yet, part of her wondered what it would feel like to feel something. "Feelings are dangerous!" her mother would always say. "They make you act foolishly. They could impair your judgment. You don't need them. They are a waste." Aurora would nod. "Yes Mother, I know." "That's my good girl.” Her mother would pat her on the head. "Can't have you getting hurt." And that was the conversion. No more information was given. Aurora had no idea why her mother feared emotions so. But Aurora trusted her mother, so she believed that emotions shouldn't be trusted. One day, Aurora was hanging out with her best friend. "So Aurora, your big 18 is coming up! What are our plans?" Katie asked excitedly. “Same as always, Kate." Aurora gave a well-practised smile. "Really? Come girl, live a little," Katie teased. "You know how my mom is.” Aurora rolled her eyes, the skill that was hardest to learn. "Want me to see if my mom can pull some strings and get you over for a sleepover? The two of us can have a small party." Katie smiled brightly at her. Aurora knew it was just Katie's emotions that made birthdays such a big deal. It was just another day. But at the same time, she found it thoughtful. "You can try." Katie clapped and jumped up and down. "You just wait! Mom and I will throw you the best mini-birthday ever!" Aurora used that well-practised smile and, for the first time, she wished it was real. Somehow Katie's mother convinced Aurora’s mother to agree to the sleepover. "Katie's mother mentioned that she picked up extra emotions for tonight, and I didn't want you to feel bad for not taking them, so I picked this up." Aurora’s mother handed her a bottle with a clear liquid in it. "What is this?" Aurora looked at it closely. "It's a drink that stops the emotion potions from working,” her mother said passively. "Is it safe?" Aurora brought it to her nose; it had no smell. "Oh, perfectly. I used it on you when you were young and we would go to your little friends’ parties. And I use it daily to look normal." Aurora carried the drink into the car. "Mom? Are you sure emotions are that bad? Maybe it's not so bad." "Never, darling. They make people do…" "Foolish things. I know…but some people aren't foolish or wasteful with them." “Aurora…” Her mother spoke slowly. “I'm letting you spend the night with your friend. Don't push it. Drink. The. Drink. Or you will suddenly get sick." Aurora knew she couldn't really feel fear, and for that she was grateful. She slowly drank the liquid it; had a sour aftertaste. "Happy?" "Never," her mother said pointedly. They pulled up to the house. "Have fun. I'll drop the car off tomorrow. I’ve arranged a ride to work tomorrow, so you can have the car." "Thanks, Mom." Aurora headed inside, ready to pretend she could feel like the rest. "Aurora!" Katie's mom gave her a hug. "Happy birthday, dear!" "Mom and I got all kinds of things to make tonight special!" Katie jumped again. And did they ever! They had cakes, cookies, chips, pop, movies, face masks, and so much more. "And…" Katie's father stepped into the kitchen. "We got you a few gifts!" "Wow...I...I don't know what to say." Aurora stared at everything…Unsure how to react. "We are gonna celebrate!" Katie's mom handed everyone a pink drink for what Aurora assumed was happiness. It had been years since she’d seen one this close up. She wanted to look at it closer but couldn't without being conspicuous. She quickly drank it down and noticed it had no flavour - was that because of the drink before? She kept rolling with the act all night. After much celebrating, the girls went upstairs to Katie's room. They crawled into bed, turned off the light, and talked late into the night. When there was a lull and a moment of silence, Aurora couldn't help but ask. "Kate?" "Yeah?" 'What does it feel like?" Katie sat up. "What does what feel like?" “Feeling...'' Aurora sat up and wrapped herself in a blanket. "What do you mean? You...you feel...I've seen you... Tonight you..." "Copy-and-pasting is easy when you've been watching it all your life." Aurora took a deep breath. "My mom doesn't....doesn't let me feel. Forbids it, actually. I've never been allowed to feel..." "But tonight you drank emotion potions..." Katie came and sat next to her. "They make a counter potion for that." "So, you're always numb?" Aurora nodded. Katie said nothing and just hugged her friend. "So, try to describe them to me?" Aurora fell asleep to the sound of her best friend trying to explain what different feelings felt like. The next morning Aurora chatted with Katie's parents. They decided that they would help Aurora move away from home shortly after high school, and then Aurora could decide what she wanted to do about emotions. Aurora continued to follow her mom’s rules. Then a few weeks after graduation, thanks to Katie's dad, Aurora got a job in the big city; there she worked as a receptionist for the sister company to the one he worked for. Katie's mom helped her find a therapist. And that's where she sat now, facing a kind older woman who went by Ms. K. "So tell me, Aurora, what brings you to my office today?" "I'm 19 and I’ve never felt anything before..." she said quietly. "Oh, dear girl, you're not the first person I've met who has had this happen to them." The older woman said with a smile. "My mom said emotions were dangerous and wrong... " "So you never got a say in your feelings?" "No. Never. And even after I've moved away, I'm still terrified to try." "Because what if she's right?" Aurora nodded. “I’ll help you." The two spent a few weeks talking. Aurora learned that some feelings existed without the potions, like being uncomfortable, feeling like you didn't belong, or feeling safe or comfortable. And eventually, she took home a small set of tester emotions, small bottles that only lasted an hour or so. She set them on her table. And just stared at them. She didn't have to use them. She could wait; her therapist had said there was no rush. But they had kind of hit a wall with therapy. She needed to feel and she knew it. She wasn't sure what she wanted to feel first. She looked at all the colours, each one representing something she'd never experienced. The red caught her eye, and she picked it up. Anger; without giving herself a moment to think, she took a drink. She was shocked at the heat of the drink. Then she waited. Would she freak out, would she break something? But nothing happened. Was she broken? Had her mom wrecked her? She started writing just like her therapist suggested. She started to write about her mom, and suddenly she was writing fast and hard, she was so angry. Then she stopped. She was angry... and she wasn't dangerous to anyone. The realization of her mom’s lie fueled her anger more. Writing wasn't enough. So she went for a walk. She walked till the emotion wore off. "Whoa..." She saw a bench nearby and sat for a moment, processing the experience. Still feeling overwhelmed, she walked slowly back to her apartment. She wanted to feel something more positive. She picked up the pink drink she remembered from her birthday. Happiness. She took the drink and swallowed it. She found it odd that almost instantly she thought of Katie and her family and the way they had helped her. And she started crying. You can cry when you’re happy? she wondered. She called Katie. 'Am I broken?" Aurora started their call. “What do you mean?' "My therapist gave me emotions to try in small quantities. And when I tried happiness I thought of you and your family, and I started crying," Aurora explained. "Oh, my friend... You are not broken. You're just crying because you are so happy. Hey, turn on the front camera." "Why?" “I wanna see your for-real smile." So Aurora did. "Woah. Emotions look good on you.” "Thanks." Aurora smiled brightly. The girls talked way later than Aurora had meant to. But it felt so good. After hanging up, Aurora looked over to her box of trial emotions. There was more to feel. Sadness scared her the most because she knew that once she tried that one, she would grieve the childhood she didn't have. But for now, she would go to bed knowing she had started to heal.

A few weeks later, Andrew and Penny walked out of the parkour class; they had stayed late to work on a lift for a dance routine they were working on with the safety of the mats. As they found their way to their bike, Andrew heard women cry for help. He and Penny shared a look, and without thinking they took off toward the cries. They rounded the corner and saw a woman trying to stop someone from taking her purse. “We have to help,” Penny whispered. Andrew knew she was right. “But how do we help?” He whispered back. “We’re heroes! This is what we do!” Penny shot him a smile. Then moving quickly, she ran at the thief and used the element of surprise to knock him down. She quickly returned the purse to the woman. “Run!” The woman did not need to be told twice; she ran to her own bike and disappeared. Unfortunately for Penny, the thief got back up. “So you wanna fight, do ya girl?” He swung at Penny, who thankfully dodged just in time. Andrew stood shocked for a second. There was no magic, no elements to keep them safe. What was Pen thinking? Suddenly, he saw the man pull out a knife! Andrew needed to act, and act fast! He saw a metal trash can lid and grabbed it. He ran toward Penny. “Petal! Watch out!” He jumped between Penny and the thief, using his makeshift shield to deflect the knife. As the knife hit the ground with a clang, Penny’s eyes widened like she just realized what she’d done. She quickly kicked the knife away. Andrew used the shield to defend himself and tried to knock the thief down long enough so they could get away. But the guy was persistent. Penny watched Andrew fight; she needed a new way to help. Then she saw it - a jump rope left behind by some kid. She rolled away from the two fighting and grabbed the rope. Sure, it wasn’t as good as her magic lasso, but she could make do. She worked quickly to tie the rope, and as she finished she looked up to see that somehow the thief had managed to get his knife back and was too close to Andrew for comfort. “Flame!” She called out as she took a running start yet again, only this time she tossed the homemade lasso. As it landed around the thief's hand, she lept in the air with a flip, pulling the lasso tight and managing to wrap it around the thief’s body while landing perfectly. Andrew and Penny worked quickly to tie the thief to a tree. After retrieving a notepad from their bikes, they left a note for the police. They signed it with a flower on fire and rode away. Penny headed home while Andrew stopped at the police station to tell them about someone tied to a tree. When he arrived home, Penny had made them hot chocolate and they sat on the couch. “That felt amazing!” Penny’s eyes lit up. “I guess it did feel pretty cool to do hero work again. Though I do miss the safety of the suits.” Andrew laughed as he enjoyed the warmth of his drink. Penny laughed along, then looked at Andrew. “So, Petal huh?” Andrew nearly choked on his hot chocolate, then rubbed the back of his neck. “Sorry, I’ve been trying to find a name to replace Rose and in a moment of panic, Petal came out.” Penny giggled. “It’s okay, I did the same thing with Flame.” Penny smiled as she fiddled with her mug. And I like Petal, it’s cute… “Oh, you think it’s cute do you?” Andrew teased her. “What? I never said that!” Penny laughed nervously. “Yes you did, I heard you.” Andrew looked at her. Can you hear me now? Penny looked at him. He heard her voice, but she never opened her mouth. I can! I really can! Wait, what does this mean? Andrew looked at her, both confused and excited. “I guess it means that here we are meant to be together in some way…” Penny looked at him. “And I guess we get to decide what that is.” She gave him a small smile. “Yeah, I guess we do.” Andrew smiled. So they had soul names; he couldn’t help but wonder what that would mean for them. *** A few days later, a story was printed in the press about two heroes named Petal and Flame. Petal, did you see the paper? Andrew reached out to her at work. I did Flame, we’re heroes again. Penny laughed and looked at her wristband; that way her co-workers would think she was reading a funny message. She and Andrew kept it a secret that they found out their soul names. Do we want to be heroes again? Andrew asked. Penny stopped her work, did she want to be a hero again? It certainly was riskier here than back home, but fighting smaller crime was better than fighting the Owl… And surely they could do more than just stop petty thieves. They could go visit kids at the hospital and help fundraise, and maybe even help the kids who needed a second chance… I think, I think I do. But I want to talk more about it at home. So later that night while eating supper, they talked about ways they could take up the hero mantle again. They decided that a few nights a week they would patrol the village square, as that seemed to be where most of the trouble happened, and on weekends they would go to visit the other districts and see what they could do to help. Andrew agreed that visiting hospitals and schools sounded like a good idea too. So that’s what they did. Andrew brought some unused costumes home from the theatre, and Penny used what few sewing skills Sophie had taught her to make a few modifications to the outfits. Her costume for Petal was a light green romper; she sewed a belt of yellow roses to it and found a mask that matched that green dress fabric. It was light and easy to move in, and she could easily add layers later when it got to be cold. She also found a green and yellow rope she could use as her lasso. For Andrew, she took a black dress shirt and, using a stencil, sewed flame outlines on the shirt. He found a pair of pants that stretched enough to be comfortable to fight in. He also retrieved that same trash can lid and bent it into a better shield so he could use it again. They worked on incorporating moves from both their dance and parkour classes into their fighting style. Over time as they worked to protect Twin Crescent, their bruises faded and they felt pain less often. It didn’t take long for Penny and Andrew to find a schedule. They both kept working at the studio and Theater and Andrew was still on the Jazz club rotation. So on the nights when they had dance class or parkour class or Andrew had a gig, they would stay late and patrol the Village Center. They caught a few teens trying to graffiti the walls, as well as the occasional thief. Sometimes they would help the police or firemen when they could. And then they would rotate which weekends they spent in the other three districts. It felt good for both of them to spend time fighting crime again. After about a year of this, Penny and Andrew used some of the money they had inherited to start community centres in each district or to help upgrade ones that already existed. They offered any troubled youngster a lesser punishment if they came to a centre the next time the heroes visited. And more often than not, the teens came. Penny and Andrew had fun watching their new friends Alice and Henry try to figure out who Petal and Flame were. It made them laugh at all their guesses. Meanwhile, Jonathan and Betty never said much about the two heroes that just showed up one day. But whenever it was discussed, they gave Penny and Andrew a knowing look. If the people in Arcadia thought Penny and Andrew were in sync before, they would have been shocked to see them now. Without having to actually talk to one another out loud while dancing or fighting, they could move with such grace that some people believed that Petal and Flame really did have superpowers. Petal on your left! Flame called to her while they dealt with a small group of thugs trying to break into a coffee shop that had kicked them out earlier that day. They had already broken a window by the time the two came across them. Flame really hoped this building had an alarm system. Thanks, Flame! Petal gave a swift kick to the guy on her left, successfully winding him. Having him drop to the ground, she quickly handcuffed him to the same post where she’d handcuffed the other thug they’d beaten. I hear the sound of bikes; hopefully, that’s the police. Soon a group of officers came around the corner, clearly relieved to see them there. Flame quickly knocked the last thug to the ground. “Hello, officers! We have your guys here,” he said with a smile. “Just send Petal’s handcuffs to our mailbox in the village.” And with a wave, the heroes disappeared into the night. They found somewhere to change and head back to the hotel they had picked for their stay in the mountains district. As they walked, Penny enjoyed the view from the dual-lit sky. “You know Andy,” she said taking his arm, “If I could live anywhere other than the farming district, I think I’d pick here.” “Oh?” Andrew looked at her, surprised. “Not the warm beach district? But you love the water and the waves…” “Well yes… but look.” She gestured to all the shadows and shapes in the background and the cute almost-Christmas-village-like look of the district. “It’s simply magical.” Andrew smiled. “I still think I’d rather be warm,” he laughed. “You just have no use for aesthetics.” Penny rolled her eyes as they entered the hotel. “What good are aesthetics if I’m cold all the time?” Andrew shook his head. “Well, this is yours.” He stopped outside her door. We did good tonight, Petal. We did, Flame. Penny gave Andrew a hug and held on for just a moment too long. She quickly let go and tried to hide her blush. “Well, um…yes, thank you for walking me to my room.” “Happy to. Sleep well, Pen.” He stepped back as Penny entered her hotel room. After she closed the door, he quietly walked to his. Don’t forget! We have a heroe’s breakfast at the centre tomorrow, 9:30 sharp! Penny reminded him as he got to his room. He smiled. He knew the reminder was as much for her as it was for him, but he still found it cute. His mind briefly wandered to the hug; why had Pen turned so red afterwards? It wasn’t uncommon for her to hug him after a battle, just like she had tonight, to check he was okay or something. It wasn’t anything more… right?

Peter considered himself a cool kid. Not that he was the top dog at his school, but he was definitely in the cool crowd. He had a good group of friends, his teachers loved him, and he was considered a role model at school. One day he and his group of friends were at the park and they saw Matty. Matty was not in their circle and was kinda an outsider at school, seemingly by choice. Matty was setting up a picnic. "Yo, Madster!" One of Peter's friends called out, while his other friends laughed. "What ya doing?" Matty rolled his eyes at the nickname. "I have a date." And he kept setting up his picnic. Peter's friends oohed and ahhed and snickered at the idea of Matty on a date. "I'm shocked he could find a date." Peter’s friend spoke in a low voice but Matty still heard, yet he said nothing. "Come on guys, we came to play football, so let's go." Peter led his friends away. And they played football, laughing and getting covered in mud. At some point, Peter looked over and saw that Matty's date still hadn't arrived yet. For a moment his heart sank. Had some girl lied to Matty? His friends seemed to notice too and started to make jokes about it. Peter watched in horror as some kids who had been playing ball nearby lost control of the ball and destroyed Matty's picnic. Peter’s friends laughed even louder, and for a moment Petter wondered if Matty might cry. Having had quite enough of his friend’s behaviour, Peter walked over to Matty and helped him clean up. He didn't say anything, just started picking up the plates and other things. Matty didn't speak either; he just let out a sigh and also started picking up what was left of the mess. Soon everything was back in the cooler that Matty had brought, and he gave Peter a smile. Peter's friends had already left, so Peter shrugged and said, "You like Heroes of the Empire? My dad brought me the newest comic and I got the new battle game video game." Matty's eyes got wide. "Yeah I do! I have all the issues and I play their online game!" Peter smiled. "Then come on, let's go." Peter and Matty talked about the comic books, the heroes they liked, the villains, and so much more as they walked to Peter’s house. When Peter walked in the door, a voice called out, "Peter is that you? You’re back already?" "Yeah Mom, the guys ditched me, but I made a new friend." His mom came around the corner. "This is Matty, he's in my class." His mom smiled. "Welcome to our home, Matty." She grinned. "Let me guess, you're here to play Heroes of the Empire?” The boys smiled "Yeah, Matty doesn't find it lame like the guys do,” Peter explained with a shrug. “Is that okay?" “Of course, just don't turn the TV up too loud." The boys played all afternoon. They became friends that day. Matty never told Peter about the failed date and Peter never asked. It didn't seem important. And even though they were friends, things didn't change overnight. On Monday morning, Peter was back with his friends and Matty was sitting by himself, but people left him alone. Nobody bugged him or made fun of him. Matty knew that that was Peter’s doing. Peter and Matty hung out outside of school, trading comic books, playing video games online, or taking turns hosting games night at each other's homes. They even took trips to conventions. Eventually, Peter stopped hanging out with his old friends and started to hang out with Matty. The two boys were each other’s best friend. Peter didn't need to be popular and Matty didn't need to be a loner. A number of years later, Peter helped Matty set another picnic. "Peter, she is going to say yes, right?" Matty looked at him as they spread out the blanket. “Dude, Harly is crazy about you. She going to say yes." Matty was planning to propose to his long-term girlfriend and Pete was going to film it. "Dude, I'm so nervous..." Matty fidgeted with the blanket one more time. "It's gonna be fine. Go get your girl." Peter jokingly shoved his friend. "I'll be here waiting for ya. Go change your life." Peter watched his friend dart off to make the future happen. He smiled over at his own finance who had just pulled up in her car to help him film. She walked over to him. "So why was it so important for you two to set this up?" "Because it's how we met. Only this picnic will have a much happier ending than that one." They shared a smile and waited together.

You are running for your life. A dragon is chasing you. And this is no ordinary dragon, he’s huge! Suddenly, you run into a dead end. You look left and right; the dragon has you trapped. You frantically wave your sword, which does nothing but tire you out. Then, as if someone is looking out for you, you notice a cave in the wall. You quickly dive into the shelter it provides. You think through the options - Fight, Flight or Freeze. Everyone knows that those are the options when you are in danger. But no one ever talks about what happens when your back is against the wall and fleeing isn't an option. When your enemy is snarling at you, claws bared, ready to tear you to shreds, so freezing isn't an option either. You know you have to fight, even though every fiber in your body longs to freeze up or run. But you have nowhere to run. You step outside your little safe haven and get ready to fight the dragon. You look up at the beast and then you feel your heartbeat. Your heart is pounding in your chest; you can hear it in your ears. It's almost deafening. You are light-headed, and the world around you feels like it's spinning out of control. It seems impossible to catch your breath. Yet here you stand, blade in hand, a huge dragon staring you down, ready to kill you. You force yourself to take a breath, slowly inhaling, then exhaling. The dragon roars loudly, You try to scream and you quickly cover your ears, dropping your blade. You hear it hit the ground. You fight to breathe again. You force your breath to slow down, as you listen to the sound of your own inhale and exhale. You feel your heart rate slow, and you bend down and pick up your blade again. You need a plan. Throwing your blade around willy-nilly will get you nowhere fast. You look around, and you see the dragon, of course…but you notice that he isn't as big as you thought he was. The next thing you notice is how green the trees and grass are. You realize that there are actually quite a few trees nearby; there might even be a way to sneak past the dragon through the trees. You notice that the dead end you’re trapped in isn't as narrow as you thought it was before. You actually have room to move around. You relax a bit, feeling less like a board. You see a bird fly by, and it gives you hope; you can do this. Your sword feels lighter than it was before. Your armour seems lighter and less restricting than you remember it being. You take a fighting stance and notice how much easier it is to move now; all the stiffness has left your body. You feel how much easier it is to breathe. The air doesn't burn anymore. You hear the dragon growl and see his feet moving back as he waits for some kind of attack, almost like he's taunting you. You listen to your breath, slow and steady. As you breathe, your head feels less crowded and it is easier to think. A bird sings nearby, interrupting your now clearer thoughts. Its song brings you even more hope. You notice for a moment that your mouth is desperately dry and all you want is water. You look back at the dragon and realize that he is much smaller than you remember. He hardly seems to be a threat now. You close your eyes and prepare to fight. When you open your eyes, there's no dragon, and you're not outdoors. You are inside your own home. You look down and see not a sword but your phone in your hand. Then you remember the call that set you off, a social engagement that you'd forgotten about - your whole evening looks different now. For a moment your heart rate quickens. You breathe, your anxiety won’t win another round. You remind yourself, you will be fine. You have all the tools you need to handle this situation; you just used them. They might not be as sharp as a sword, but they might just be more useful.

Penny woke up at 4:00 am again. At least this time it wasn't from a nightmare, she mused to herself. She crawled out of her bed and sat in the armchair she kept by the window. Watching the stars and moons reminded her of her rooftop back in Arcadia. She wrapped herself in the quilt she had bought from a lady at the town market. After four months of waking up at 4:00 am every day, Penny figured her body was just used to it now. Four months... Has it really been that long already? She had found herself referring to this place as home. It wasn’t that she didn't want to go back to her family and her boyfriend, but her heart was growing tired of hoping that they would find a way out. She and Andrew both had started getting involved in the farm and the community in Twin Crescent, and that was probably her fault. After about a month and a half of being there and only spending time with a small group of people, she'd had a breakdown. She could still remember the look on Andrew's face when he walked in the door that day. "Hey, Pen! I'm home! Man, that kid that Henry had me practise with for the upcoming show is straight fire!" He walked in from their small entryway. "Whoa... Pen, you've made enough baked goods to feed a small army...." "Well, it was my first solo day off since we got here, and once I wasn't busy my mind started going places it really shouldn't, so I figured I would bake some treats for Alice and the other artist at the studio, and well, I guess I kind of let things get out of hand... Oh, Andrew! It's 5:30 and I haven't even started supper yet! I'm so sorry, I was so busy baking..." Her eyes flooded with tears. "Hey now." Andrew quickly came over and gave her a hug. "Breath for me." She inhaled, then felt her shoulders drop as she breathed out. The oven timer dinged, so she left Andrew's hug and pulled her last tray of goodies out of the oven. "Look, today's Friday, the night's still young,” Andrew said. “Go wash up and put on something nice, and I'll take you out for dinner. Then tomorrow we can figure out what to do with all the goodies." He smiled softly. She smiled back., "That sounds really nice, Andrew. Can we try dinner in the little hotel? Alice said it was her favourite spot in the village centre and I've only eaten at the bar when you’re playing." She hung up her apron. "As for the goodies, I was thinking we could take some to the staff families here? We haven't met them yet, and I want to." Andrew had agreed with her so, after their first night out, they packaged up goodie trays to take to all the families. And just like that, they were a part of the bigger family. They helped babysit, which helped them battle some of the homesick feelings, and they were invited over for dinner. Now, there wasn't a weekend that went by where they weren't babysitting or having dinner with families. It was also thanks to the families that Penny and Andrew started taking a weekly dance class along with a parkour class to keep their fighting skills sharp, just in case. It had become the break they often needed, and it was something that felt familiar to them, like a touch of Arcadia. A woman named Jennifer had taken Penny under her wing. She was the wife of the farm farrier. The women bonded over a love of cooking and baking. Jennifer had been the one to suggest to Penny that if her nightmares were waking her up, she might as well just get up and start her day. After that Penny planned on being out of the house in time to greet the workers as they did their early morning chores. Sometimes she'd go and help hand out tea and coffee, other times she visited the stable workers. Once she had done her rounds, she'd go have morning tea with Jennifer on her front porch until her husband came in for breakfast. Then Penny would return to her home and make breakfast for her and Andrew. Sometimes Andrew joined her but not often; his club and theatre gigs required later nights, so often ate later while she was at work. Penny’s alarm went off, pulling her from her thoughts. She smiled and turned it off. Stepping into her bathroom, she washed her face and braided her hair in a way that still hid the bruise on her ear. Then she slipped into her farm clothes. She was grateful for the wool cape Alice had given her as a welcome gift, as it had cooled off a lot since she and Andrew had arrived. Betty had also helped her find a pair of lace-up boots to wear around the farm. She wondered if the cooler weather there would bring snow. Does it snow here? Penny would have to ask someone about that. She quietly left the house and watched the sun rise the rest of the way. Today would be a good day. *** The day was good. Alice had explained the seasons of Twin Crescent, and turned out they had the same seasons as earth; only some of the names were different and the whole planet was on one weather system. They also didn’t get much snow; however, for about two weeks every winter they got a hefty snowfall just in time for the sun and the two moons to all line up for their Christmas-like holiday. This conversation inspired Penny; she spent that afternoon brainstorming in the studio. The Harvest season was coming up, so she was looking at the colours that reminded her of Fall back in Arcadia. She had an idea for a new set of photos to catch the changing of the season; in Arcadia, she had done more photography with people, but here in Twin Crescent she had so much fun with the colours of the sky and nature and catching the beauty of this new world. But as she made more friends, she found herself getting back into photos that told stories. She looked at the clock; it was almost dinner time. Using her wristband, she sent Andrew a message. It took some getting used to, but she liked the simple form of texting. Hey Andy! Rather than going home before dance class would you like to have a picnic in the park? I can grab food from the Market…I'm basically done at the studio. Penny, I don't have my dance clothes! Otherwise, I'd be so down! You know how I packed your lunch today? I placed your dance clothes in the box of your bike. :) Pen! You sneaky girl you! You had this plan all day! Alright, meet you at the park by the pond? In 35? Love it, see you soon! She hopped on her electric bike, zipped through the crowds of people and found her way to the Market. She loved this place, and she would be interested to have a booth for her baking every now and then, but she and Andrew were trying to keep a balance between being involved and uninvolved. She found her way to her favourite food vendor, then selected a meal choice and some of the vendor's famous lemonade. With her goodies in hand, she hopped on her bike and headed to their favourite spot at the park. She set up a picnic blanket and made herself comfortable. While she waited for Andrew she pulled out her camera. Just like before, she again had two cameras - one bigger and one smaller. She pointed her lens at some berries hanging on a dying branch; it was an amazing contrast of colours. She had been so in the zone looking at the photos she’d just taken, that she hadn't heard Andrew walk up. Suddenly, he placed his hands over her eyes and whispered, "Guess who?" Penny jumped. "Andrew!" She turned and hit his arm. "You scared me!" He toppled over laughing. "Sorry, Pen! But you make it too easy." He sat next to her and stole her camera, looking through the photos. "Ohh, what's this?" She pointed to the dying berry bush. "With the season changing, I thought the colour contrast might be nice for a new set of photos. I got inspired at the studio today, and then while I was waiting for you I saw that bush and just had to take a few test shots.” "So that you can get a better idea for a fall colour palette." Andrew smiled at her. "Yes! Exact... Hey! You have been listening to me! You really do listen when I ramble on about picture stuff!" She looked at him, impressed. Andrew chuckled and handed her back her camera. "Of course, Pen! I love watching your passion grow!" Penny giggled and shut off her camera, then pulled out the supper she’d bought. Andrew's eyes lit up. Penny glanced at the bruise on his wrist. "Hey Andrew, do you know how long it's been?" "We've got to be at…what, three months now?" He happily unwrapped his sandwich. "Four months today." She didn't look up. "Oh... Wow, time sure is flying, eh?" He put down his sandwich. "Yeah... Andrew, do you ever get tired of waiting? Do you ever wish we could just fully commit to life here?" She glanced up at him; she knew she was asking a lot. He would know what she was implying. She nibbled on her sandwich, waiting. He fidgeted, not looking at her. His voice was soft, and she almost couldn't hear him. "Am I a bad person if I say yes?" "Only if I am too." She set her sandwich down. "I know that we would both go back to Arcadia in a heartbeat if we could. And I miss Trevor like crazy, I miss my parents, I want to see Sophie... But… I like it here. And I want to take part in it." She tried to keep her voice soft. "Oh Pen, I thought it was just me." He gave her a side hug. A tear ran down her cheek. "What about Trevor and Sophie?" She wiped the tears away. "Well, I guess we have to believe that their timeline is running like ours." He took a swig of his juice. She paused for a moment and sighed. "Think with Sophie’s help Trevor could get out of his mother's control?" "Oh man, I hope so. Seeing Sophie lose it on that woman would be hilarious!" Andrew laughed out loud and Penny joined in. They ate in peaceful silence for a while, then she looked over at Andrew. "Hey, Andrew?" He looked over at her. "I know this is going to sound mean, but I'm glad that it's you here with me." "Don't you wish it was Trevor?" He cocked his head. "Well at first I did, but Trevor is reckless. It's why he has the Element Water - he acts on impulse, without the worry of the damage it does. His water and ice do the least amount of damage out of all the elements. He, like the water, can just go with the flow because his team keeps him in check." She sighed "Even when he's not in his mask, Trevor acts without thinking and follows blindly." She giggled. "But I do love him." "What about Sophie?" Andrew knew how close the two girls were. Penny giggled. "She holds the Element Wind; she is quick, thinks on her feet, but also acts on impulse, and is also stubborn. She fights for everyone but doesn't always think about her actions, and she sometimes, like the wind pushes, too hard and ends up hurting those she doesn’t mean to." Andrew chuckled. "Yeah… okay, you’re right." "Don't get me wrong, they are great teammates and even better partners, but..." She picked at her cookie, feeling a little bad. "There is a reason they aren't the team leaders. But I'm not a leader either, Pen." She stared at him. "You’re kidding, right....?" He looked at her with an eyebrow raised. "Andrew…so, you might not be in charge like me, but you are the team's protector; you keep us safe, and you stay calm, cool and collected in battle. You and I have the Elements we have because we can keep a level head no matter how messed up things get.” She smiled. “So, I am glad that we are here together even if it means lots of grief.” "You think too highly of me, Pen." Andrew smiled and shook his head, then started to help clean up. "But I'm glad that you're here with me too." She smiled brightly at him, and he stood and offered her his arm. "To dance class?" Penny smiled and nodded. "To dance class." She took his arm, and as they walked through the park back to their bikes, she thought to herself, Today has been good.

For as long as James could remember, every time you went to Papa's house he took your height and marked it on his wall. Papa liked seeing how his kids and grandkids grew. James loved looking at that wall, dotted with little lines followed by names and ages. He also loved that when one of the in-laws became family, their height got added to the wall. Because there was only one rule: this wall was for family only. James had seen just a few of his closest friends get added as a show of belonging. His girlfriend Becky was just about learn all about this tradition. James brought her to meet his Papa during their second summer together on a family trip. "Papa, meet Becky, my girlfriend," James introduced them, and Becky offered her hand. Papa ignored the handshake and gave her a hug. “Finally! I get to meet ya. This boy can't stop talking about you!" James blushed, only slightly embarrassed. Becky giggled and kissed his cheek. "All good things, I hope." Becky smiled as she pulled back to look at Papa. “Only the best,” he said with a wink. "Now come, let me give you a tour of my home." Papa walked them through the house, telling them stories of his kids, taking a few moments to embarrass James. Then he reached the family room, and Becky instantly noticed the marks on the wall. "What's all this?" She pointed. "Ah, my favourite tradition," Papa said fondly. James stood against the wall, and Papa marked his unchanging height. “Every visit." James smiled. "So wait, all of these marks are from one of your kids?" Becky asked. "Kids, grandkids, adopted family…the ones who married in," he teased with a wink. Both kids blushed and quickly left the room. Later on a walk together, Becky went on and on about how cute and sweet the tradition was. "I think it's his way of keeping everyone close. We all live far away, so I think it helps him out." James smiled, taking Becky's hand. "I think that's great. I'm glad I got to come this summer and meet all your family." Becky swung her arm back and forth. "I am too." James smiled happily. The two made it through college as a couple; both of them got their degrees and then started the job hunt. James found work first and then it was Betty's goal to find a place and job near him. But until that happened, they agreed they would settle for trips on long weekends. James' work schedule wouldn't allow him to go on the traditional family trip that year. So he and Becky decided to go see Papa on one of their weekend visits together. The three went fishing, had campfires and went thrift shopping. Papa enjoyed the company, and James and Betty enjoyed the freedom from their grown-up world. After an early morning fishing trip, Betty took a nap and James and Papa sat to play a game of crib. "So my boy, tell me, what ya waiting on?" Papa said with a smile as he dealt the cards. "Waiting on?" Jame asked, feigning innocence. "Don't play dumb with me, boy. " Papa gave him a look. James sighed. "I can't find the right ring - everything is too flashy or too plain. She needs something just right." Papa set his cards down and walked into his bedroom. James wasn't sure if he should follow or not. But just as he set his cards down, Papa walked back into the room and sat down. He slid a red velvet box across the table. James knew this box. His grandma took it on every trip and it always sat on her nightstand. "Papa..." James was shocked. "Are you sure?" "She always told me she wanted one of you kids to propose with it. And you seem like you need it." He gestured for James to open the box. James slowly lifted the lid, smiling as he remembered his grandmother. She would have loved Becky. He looked at the simple yet stunning ring his papa had asked his grandmother with all those years ago. "She'll love it Papa, thank you." "You'll want to get it sized and maybe polished. Gives you time to plan your romantic gesture.” Papa winked as he picked up his cards. In the next couple of weeks, James got the ring sized and polished, and then he thought about his proposal. Becky needed something perfect... And one day, the perfect idea hit him. A few weeks later, he found a way to take a couple of days off and convinced Becky to join him for one last summer trip to visit Papa. They arrived late in the afternoon. "So Becky,” James glanced at her as he parked in the drive. “I lied." She gave him a look. "This trip wasn't my idea, it was Papa’s. He has a surprise for ya." "Oh! Well, that's lovely." She smiled. "Cover your eyes, no peeking. We'll unpack later." James led her through the house, not saying a word. Becky wasn't sure if that was a good or bad sign. But she played along. James stopped walking and turned her around. "Wait here." She heard the two men whispering along with other sounds that she couldn't identify. "Alright Becky, open your eyes.” Papa's voice greeted her. When she did, she saw she was standing in front of the wall of heights. She took a step back, confused. Then she saw it; while her eyes had been closed, Papa had added her height to the wall. "Papa, you must be mistaken - James hasn't asked me to marry him yet." Papa smiled softly. "Oh no, I know, dear girl. But I count you as family." He stepped aside to reveal James down on one knee. “James!" Becky gasped and immediately tackled him before he could even speak. Did you like what you read? Do you want to get notified when I post a new story before my Facebook or Instagram followers do? If you do, click the Login/Sign Up button at the top of the blog post and you will become a site member and get notified when I post a new story every Friday! Or you can follow me on Facebook or Instagram and get updates later on in the day!