19 Feb 2025, 20:17
When We Were Younger and Free

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Interacting with: N/A
Mentioning: N/A
Date: 11/28/19Word Count: 1194
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✽The sunrise was beautiful. Avery and Dylan were sitting on the edge of the porch. The early golden rays splashing their young faces with light. Everything was so peaceful. Like the calm before a storm. Avery leaned in Dylan's shoulder. She loved it here. It was peaceful and beautiful. She wished she could stay here forever. Maybe her and Dylan could actually be siblings instead of just cousins that rarely saw each other. She loved the feeling of having a "brother". She didn't have any siblings, so Dylan, who was only a couple days younger than her, was the only person her age that was like a brother to her. Even her best friend back in London wasn't like him. She was more obsessed with makeup at the age of 7 than Avery was with books.
Dylan also leaned into Avery as they bathed in the morning light. Avery let out a little sigh. The sunrise was perfect today. She was glad that she was able to wake Dylan up to come see it. Usually he slept through the sunrise. That's why Avery and her dad usually watched it together. But her dad wasn't here this time. Actually, he wasn't going to be back for another couple days. From what Avery's mom had told her, he was going to deal with some kind of problem. Her mother wouldn't say anything else, so Avery wondered what she was hiding. Her mother never told her the full truth. She always said that Avery was "too young and needed to get a little older because she wouldn't understand". That always frustrated Avery. She knew she could at least try to understand. She couldn't stand secrets. They just tore people apart.
"Hey, Avy, Should we head back inside? I think grandpa just got up. I can hear someone in the kitchen." Dylan said as he slowly got up and stretched.
Avery stood up at his comment. Her stomach rumbling slightly. Making them laugh. She guessed that her stomach had just answered for her. "I guess my stomach already answered for me. Let's get some food before it happens again." That caused Avery and Dylan to break out into another fit of giggles before they wandered their way inside where their grandfather was making a delicious smelling breakfast of eggs and bacon. Avery and Dylan's favorite.
"I heard you two laughing outside. What mischief have you gotten up to this time?" Their grandfather asked with a sparkle in his eyes. Avery knew he knew what they were up to. He knew them both too well not to.
"You know. . . the usual stuff. . ." Avery said as she glanced at Dylan. Then they began to giggle mischievously.
"Alright, I get it. Top secret stuff, huh? Well, I guess I'll leave you guys to it. I can't just leave this breakfast to be ruined. You guys wouldn't like that, would you?" Their grandfather teased.
Avery and Dylan stared at him in shock. Then it was his turn to begin laughing. Of course he knew that his breakfast was their favorite. Then, Avery and Dylan's moms walked into the kitchen. Avery was shocked at how much they looked alike. Of course they looked alike. They were twins. But Avery rarely noticed that until now. At this moment, they looked like what Avery imaged they looked when they were younger. The only difference between them being their hair length. Dylan's mom, Avery's aunt, had her hair cut just below her shoulders, but Avery's mom's hair went way past her shoulders and down her back. It was beautiful and Avery wished her hair was like that, but it wasn't.
"Kids. Go sit at the table. Breakfast's ready." Their grandfather called.
Avery and Dylan raced to the table. One shoving the other, so they could get there first. This was the game that Avery always loved to play every morning. And, every time they got to the table, their grandfather would drop two plates in front of them as Avery's aunt dropped two glasses full of orange juice in front of them. Breakfast looked delicious. It was just what Avery and Dylan had smelled. Bacon and eggs with a piece of toast. Their favorite breakfast, and their grandfather's specialty breakfast.
As they were eating, the adults crowded around the table. The joy evident on all their faces. Though it wasn't quite Christmas, Avery was still excited. For the first time since she had been forced to move from her home here in Wales, she was able to spend more than a week here! Actually, she was spending all the way until the end of winter! Which is why her parents were switching out for work. They at least had consideration for her this time. Though, she missed her dad and wished he could spend more time with her. He was the only other adult besides her grandfather that did stuff with them. Usually everyone else was too busy with whatever they were doing. That's why Avery was never very close to her mother whenever they came here. She had so much freedom that she rarely gave a second thought about the little time she ever got with her mother.
Avery quickly ate her dinner. Growing more excited by the minute for the events of the day. Instead of just hanging around the house like they usually did, they were actually going to go out into the town to play around. Avery hadn't been in town since she was really little, so she couldn't wait to see what it had to offer. She hoped that there was still the bookstore that her father told her about there. She really wanted to get another book to read since she had just finished her other one. She was going to need something to do on the days that it was too rainy or too cold to play outside or do anything.
Avery and Dylan finished their food quickly, dropped the plates and glasses into the sink, then ran outside to wait for the rest of them to finish. They had decided to play of chasing each other around the yard as they waited for the adults. Avery jumped up behind Dylan, slapped him on the back and yelled, "You're it!" Before she began running away from him. Dylan laughed and began his chase. Avery had a slight head start, so she would have a little room for slowing down, but not much. Dylan was fast too, so it was only a matter of time before he caught up to her.
Avery glanced over to the porch and saw her grandparents watching her and Dylan play. They had their arms wrapped around each other as they watched their grandchildren play. Avery smiled. They looked so proud of them. That thought caused Avery to forget she was running away from Dylan. Suddenly, Dylan tackled her to the ground. The two cousins caught in a fit of laughter as they lay there looking up at the clear sky. It was going to be an amazing day and an amazing vacation. Avery couldn't wait to see what else was in store for them. ✽
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Credit: Mylo Atkins
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