July 4

My brother lights the wick of a store bought gun powder filled firework. He quickly pulls back once it’s lit. Loud whistles and crackling accompany the erratic spray of red, white, and blue flames. My eyes are focused not on the patriotic display, but on the effect of second hand light. The backyard which was just moments earlier covered with a blanket of darkness is now as visible as it was midday. My grandfather is standing closest to the show. He is up from his chair for the momentous occasion, but to do so, dependant on a cane that he swears is only temporary. His profile is accented from the angle of the light. His features are sharp and soft all at once.

New Years Eve

She held the steering wheel with one hand as she glanced rapidly from the windshield to the GPS navigator on her dashboard. Screens faded into one another as she flipped through the navigation options. Where to? Enter Address? In what State? She looked up just in time to notice the Camry in front of her had stopped short at a red light. She slammed on the breaks, stopping so close to the car in front of her that she was sure their license plates were touching. She pushed out three heaving breaths that mixed with the cold air inside the car so that they were visible. Both hands now gripped the steering wheel, and her white knuckles begged for mercy. Her face tightened as she fought back the inevitable that had been threatening her tear ducts since she got into the car. She flipped down the cars visor and peered into the small mirror illuminated on both sides by small white lights. Strands of her black hair framed her face. Her eyes were sharper than normal, accented by the thick black eyeliner that traced the edges of her bottom and top lids. Her cheeks were flushed with a light pink that was either from the rouge she had put on earlier, or the booze. The car behind her blew its horn and she realized the light had turned. She eased on the gas, the GPS prompting her for a destination. “I don’t know-” she whimpered to no one. “..I don’t know where I’m going”.