18. Summer

Once, there was a summer unlike any other summer, or so it seemed. It had all the qualities of a regular summer, like sun, warmth, sunscreen and grass, but something was different. Summer always inspires freedom, but this particular summer inspired more. It inspired freedom on such an extreme level that it was almost as if the summer was alive and breathing, breathing its passion and life into everyone willing to touch it.

There were some who were unwilling to greet the summer, who grumbled at the thought of warmer weather and complained about everything from the sunburn to the sweat to the crowded shopping centres as people tried to find refuge from the heat that sometimes got a little too hot to handle.

There were some that embraced the summer with all that they had, lying in fields, surfing in the ocean, hiking through the mountains and swimming in lakes, embracing nature and in the process turning brown like the trees.

There were some who admired the summer from afar, snapping photos while wearing large floppy hats, but then ducking back inside because really, who likes sunburn?

All of these people, while extremely different, were all touched by that summer. Something stirred in them each night as they watched the sun set in the distance, unable to hold in a sigh of contentment as their eyes were graced with a unique beauty, a one time offer. For some, a little light that had been off for years was switched back on again, allowing them to hope. For some, another light was lit that inspired bravery to try new things, to not let a little sunburn stop them from living life. For others, a third light was lit reminding them that sometimes, others will be different and that's ok.

That was the summer when freedom was redefined and summer taught lessons like an old friend.