For a second there was silence. A void of black around me engulfed my mind and gave me thoughts of nothingness. A pure void in which if you stare into it for too long something might stare back at you. But this only lasted a mere second. For in an instant after that second had passed everything around me had exploded into a blinding white and golden light. It was so powerful I felt as if my being was soon to be erased into ash. Although I couldn't help but have a feeling of love beyond all I know surrounding me and my soul. The feeling overwhelmed me and brought me to my knees. With tears in my eyes all I could see was the outline of a figure clothed in pure light. A being that looked over me and knew of everything I have ever said, though, or thought of saying, and did it all without saying a word. Just as I was about to say whatever word I could muster up from the bottom of my heart. The figure raised his hand and pointed straight at me. Then a sound softly rang through my head, and it gradually got louder and louder until it was so unbearable I felt like my head was going to split apart. Not being able to take the sound for a second longer I jerked myself up, and was awake.
I awoke in a sweat, dazed and confused. After getting my bearings, I realized that all that I saw was a bad dream and that, based on the light in my room, it was morning. Although that sound was still ringing something fierce and I figured out that it was coming from my phone. It was a call from Amara.
"Hello," I answered groggily.
"Well good morning sleepy head. I thought you were going to sleep all day"
I looked at my clock. Thursday February 13th, 7:44 AM. I way overslept.
"You should come down for breakfast. Your mom made some really bomb pancakes."
"Okay I'll be right down. Just try not to eat them all."
"Mhh, No promises… hehe."
Dang she could've at least told me last night she was planning on coming over in the morning. Then I would have made sure that I wouldn't have overslept. Ehh well, what should I expect coming from her. I quickly got dressed in my normal school clothes of probably washed sweatpants, an athletic shirt, and dirty run of the mill athletic shoes. After that I dragged myself into the bathroom to brush my teeth, put on some deodorant, and spray some of that new cologne Amara got me for Christmas.Â
I then open my eyes in the mirror to check for morning goop. Icy White, the same color as icebergs in the arctic. I never really realized that my eye color was quite a unique combo of colors. Maybe that's why Amara always compliments them. Finally I comb my hands through my blonde hair to form a middle part.
I make my way downstairs and see Amara and my sister Lilly sitting at the dining table talking and eating pancakes, my dad sitting in the living room watching the news, and my mom manning the stove, cooking fresh made pancakes.Â
"Sorry I slept in so late" I say as I'm making my way to the kitchen table.
"Hmpt" Dad snorted "it's because of those video games you stay up playing all night."
"Your lucky Amara called you up, because if not you would have completely missed a whole school day." Dad snarked.
"It was a great surprise Amara dropped by before school. It gave me an excuse to try out this new pancake recipe I saw online." said Mom.
"And they are some great pancakes ma'am. You really outdid yourself with these" Amara said joyfully.
"Yea mommy, these pancakes are really good." Said Lilly, my younger sister while stuffing her face with even more pancakes.
I walk over and sit down in the seat next to Amara, and Mom brings me a stack of golden brown pancakes. The pancakes are layered with butter and syrup all evenly, just how I like them. Ohh man mom knows me so well
"Ohh wow these do look really good." I say while picking up my fork eagerly and taking a large bite.
"So how'd you sleep?" Amara says while watching me scarf down my pancakes.
"Mhh I slept pretty good besides the fact from this weird dream i had."
"Ohh and what was it about?" Amara said
"Mhh it's kind of hard to explain, But it started out as a…"
"Well I'm off to work" Dad abruptly blurted out.
"Okay honey, remember to be safe and make it back home in one piece." Mom said while running towards Dad and the door. Mom then gave him a goodbye kiss to set him off to work.
"Be good at school you kids, and I'll see you at home tonight." He said while driving off.
"Oh my, it's about that time already. You kids should be heading out for school. You don't want to be late." Mom remarked.
"Yeah I guess you're right." I said while grabbing my stuff "Well be back later tonight."
"Bye Mommy, see you after school."
"Bye Ma'am thanks for the pancakes." Amara said while smiling.
"Any time Amara. Now you kids be good at school, and I'll see you tonight." Mom said while waving at us as we walk down the driveway then onto the sidewalk.
School is only about a 15 minute walk from my house, but Lilly's school is on the other side of the neighborhood so we have to take an extra 10 minutes to walk her to school before we can head to ours. Since Amara lives right across the street from me we've always walked to school with each other since we were kids, and ever since we've become more than friends. I always enjoy these walks because I like talking to someone who really gets me. Someone who I can vent to about anything. Regardless of how deep or not something is. I know she is in my corner and I am in hers.Â
Although we go to the same high school, me and Amara have mostly separate classes besides math and lunch. Which makes it difficult to see her throughout the day. But me and my friends Mason, Paden, and Tahj have almost every class together, for better or for worse. So as I'm walking into my first period class, to my not so surprise I see them all in a corner busting out laughing like they're gonna die.
"Hahahaha, Come on man you gotta see this thing through." Shouted Tahj.
"Yea bro if you do I'll give you $20 on Monday, I swear." Remarked Mason.
"Listen, I would rather cut off my arm than have to be Momo's valentine." Stated Paden.
"Ohh I get what's happening here" I said. Momo Keniki is by far the ugliest and most obnoxious girl in our grade. And apparently she has a little crush on Paden. Hahah.
"How did she ask you out?"
"She came up to me before the first bell and threw this wad of paper at me. When I opened it my heart dropped as I saw the fated words of, "Be My Valentine". "I swear I wish I would've died right then and there." Paden said as Tahj and Mason started busting out laughing again.Â
"Hey don't make fun of her too much. That took real courage to do what she did. And real talk I hope she does find someone for her in the future. …But it is really funny though." I said as I was trying to hold in laughter.
"Haha" Paden said mockingly. "Get it all out."
"But what about you William? What are you gonna get Amara for Valentine's Day?" Said Mason "I mean she's only been your girlfriend for 3 years now."
"Yea you gotta do something good this year dude. Flowers and chocolate alone won't save you this year." Tahj stated.
"Yea I know, which is why I already have the perfect plan in mind." I remarked with a mischievous grin.
"Ohhh, you gotta tell us bro." They all said.
"Nope, it's a closely guarded secret." I said "Only I, and I alone know."
"Awhhh, you're no fun." Paden said.
"Alright class, quiet down. You all need to get out your textbooks and turn to page 43." Said the teacher
Ahh valentines day. A day to show the person you love how much you really care. Past valentines days I used to just get Amara a big teddy bear, and a big box of chocolates. She would tell me thank you and how wonderful it is to have a boyfriend as caring as me. Normally these would suffice, but this year I really wanted to do something special. Amara has helped me through so much this past year, and I really want to show her how much she means to me. Which is why this valentines day I'm going all out.
The rest of the school day played out normally. I learned some new things in class, ate lunch with Amara, and ran during athletics for track practice. But all throughout the day I was thinking about the plan I had for Amara. I kept thinking if it was going to be enough, and if it would all play out right. This was enough to wear on my face and Amara noticed it on our way back home from school.
"Hey William, are you okay? You look pretty stressed out."
"Ohh me, no I'm fine I've just been…tired, yea tired because i didn't really sleep well last night."
"Ohh I'm sorry I hope our call didn't keep you up too late last night. I just really like talking to you…You know that." She says while blushing and turning away.
"I know Amara, and I like talking to you too." I said while looking into her eyes.Â
Amara has been my other half for the better part of 3 years so far, and I've loved every second of it. Even when we were young and still didn't even know how or what love really was, I still loved her. Her purple eyes hold me in a trance, and her brown silky hair makes her look like a supermodel in any way she styles it. I was so nervous to confess my love back then. I remember staying up all night practicing what I would say.Â
Amara I love you and want you to be my girlfriend. It was so cringey. But when she said she felt the same way, I could have cared less about what I said because I knew we were meant to be.
"How are you feeling about Valentine's Day?"
"I'm super excited. I got a gift for you that I know you'll just absolutely love." Amara Said. "I would give it to you now but you'll have to wait until tomorrow mister." She said playfully.
"Well now you have me wondering if my gift will be enough for my perfect princess." I said playfully right back.
We both laughed as we arrived in front of Amara's house. We then both turned face to face and Amara leaned in real close to me, grabbed my shirt lightly, and brought my face closer to hers.
"Babe, any gift you give me will be perfect." Amara said as she leaned in closer. "Because all I need is you." She said as she kissed me on my lips.Â
Amara then ran up her lawn to her front door, and as she's running she shouts, "Sleep good William, I'll see you in the morning. I love you"
"I love you too Amara."
She then ran inside, turned around and smiled at me as she closed the door.
Ahh that girl is something else now huh. I wonder what she got me. It can't be as good as mine, unless she planned out a whole elaborate experience to take me on. Then I would have a run for my money. In the meantime I was lost in thought thinking about Amara. I saw an all blacked out pickup truck barreling down the street at deadly speeds with no sign of stopping. I just barely had time to jump out of the way before being a stain on the pavement.Â
"Hey jackass, watch the road while you're driving huh." I say as the truck continues down the road without even giving me a second glance.
I rub my hands over my eyes and say, "Man I can't wait to hit the hay tonight, it's been a long day."
As I opened the front door to my house I was greeted by my family like normal. We all sat down and had dinner together. We chatted about events that happened throughout our day, Lilly and Mom told us about their trip through town, and dad told us a joke about how his co-worker dropped his lunch and screamed like a little girl when he saw a tiny spider.
After dinner I eventually went up stairs to wash up and lay down. And all through this time I still kept thinking of Amara and how I was finally gonna get to give her the gift she truly deserved. All this was enough for me to close my eyes and drift off to sleep.