The Teenage Saga: Photobooth I

It is 2005. Late Summer, still warm enough to wear light clothing. You're taking a stroll through town with friends, and it feels good to get your mind off things... which are a lot. A medical diagnosis your father got a while ago; the prospect of recovery is grim... but you prefer not to think about that. You just entered your last year of school, too. Your grades are exceptionally good, at least there's that. You work two side gigs after school; a few hours per week in a hospice, as preparation for med school, as well as a few hours per week in an old school record store. The pay isn't great but the place is.

Your best friend grabs your wrist, she's smiling from ear to ear. She has a lovely smile. It's not like you didn't know that, but it hits different today, for some reason you don't quite understand. "Photo booth!" she yells and drags you with her to a box with a curtain that you can't recall being in that particular spot in the shopping centre before but it doesn't matter - it looks fun, and the girl by your side is thrilled. You like seeing her happy. At least one of you is, but you brush the thought aside as quickly as it comes to you.

You go home with a handful of photos, but your favourite one is the one in which she's wrinkling her nose and you're resting your chin on her dainty shoulder. Sometimes it feels good to lean on someone else, you realise.

You will go back to your usual ways the next day, but today, on that warm golden Summer day in 2005, you just live in the moment. It may be the last truly carefree one you get.

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Drew this one last year and wrote that little bit for it. The story of Hallie and Lance is so incredibly special to me... those who have followed me elsewhere for the past few years will know. I love them for so many reasons and I always will.