June

The sun sets on her strawberry blond whisps.  She anxiously grabs each rope in her hands as I begin to move the tree swing, back and forth; up and down. Behind us the mountains glow amber. The air is warm. She sits on my lap and trusts me.

 

That moment was the most simplest of all moments I think I had ever beheld. There were no other kids to grab my hair and demand my attention- I was all hers. In fact, there was nobody around. Nobody but the trees and the bushes and the bugs. And us- right in the middle of God’s green summer, protected under our tree.

 

I knew that there were going to be crazy days ahead. Days filled with sickness, days flooded with homework and cleaning and driving and gossiping and baking. Days filled with lots of people and noises; politicians and friends. Days where she would say whole sentences and know more about the realities of life.

 

I often realize this in these moments. And so I leave my phone on silent and throw my head back. I try to breathe in more air and take pictures in my mind. I let them burn with the light and I know that 

 

I will never forget.

 

June was named “June” for a reason. She was named after my favorite month. It’s the beginning of summer- the month I finally feel safe and free from the cold. And it spreads out in front of it a whole summer of warmth. It’s the beginning of happiness for me. It leaves behind it all the grey and the ice. It only brings sun.

 

How could I forget?

 
She will always be there in my mind- sitting on my lap while we swing, babbling away under the sugary sun.

Always.