I sat down outside once I had my large Americano, It smelled delicious and it felt warm against my hand. I looked up, letting the hot mid-afternoon sun shine down on my face as I let realization kick in. Today is the first day in months when I don’t have to be overwhelmed or anxious about anything: the school year is over, so is nationals at gymnastics, and I’m finally home from college. I’ve spen...

As Stacey waited in line to enter the boat, she noticed how many people were in line ahead of her. She knew this would take a long time, so she woke up early to get a large cup of coffee before coming and still managed to arrive an hour early. She relaxed and set her heavy orange bag down at her feet. She hated orange, but as she only found out about this trip last week, she didn’t have many optio...

I couldn’t believed my parents had dragged me to spend the entirety of my winter break in the middle of the woods. It was apparently to spend more “family time together”, but the motel was very spread out—each room a cabin— that we only saw each other for meals. It was a relief for me. I stayed all of my time in the library or cafeteria, intensively reviewing my notes. I had entered a writing comp...

Stacey looked at the familiar walls, which she had seen so many times during her childhood. But her eyes fell on a specific corner of the kitchen, where she had spent many afternoons growing up.

Her grandma loved to bake, and spent most of her time in the kitchen, while Stacey sat by her, giving her company. Stacey never liked to bake, but she loved being with her grandmother. So she would sit t...