Thanks to everyone!
It's hard to believe that not too long ago, I was staring at a sheet of ice with freezing, flowing water beneath its surface. I've learned that time moves differently here at the cabin; it flies yet feels beautifully frozen in time as the days move forward. As for now, I'm standing on the edge of the lake; the ice above the water is now long melted into the early summer air. My bare feet sink into the dirt and twigs at the edge of the water, my hands gripping a long, strong, weathered rope.
"Come on!" Edward shouts from the water, his hair wet and matted in different directions on his head. "It's beautiful!"
"Just give me a minute!" I yell back to him, only to have him laugh right back at me.
I inhale, count to three, and exhale loudly, the rope still tight in my hands as I take several steps back. The rope remains tied tightly to the branch way above my head; it's not going anywhere, and hasn't gone anywhere in years, Edward tells me.
I'm still worried it will break off once I heave myself onto it and swing out into the water, where Edward is waiting for me.
I only had a few weeks to enjoy the lake back in September when I had first arrived in Forks before the weather turned cold. Edward had told me sometime during our hibernation that there was a place a little further down the lake where Carlisle had tied a rope to some trees, allowing Edward and his friends to play here for hours when they were kids, swinging and jumping until the sun had dipped beneath the clouds for the night.
He couldn't wait to take me here, and had wasted no time showing me how it is supposed to be done.
"What's the problem? You got this!" Edward shouts again.
"Okay okay okay," I mumble to myself with one final breath.
And then I leap.
Into the air, the wind in my hair as I scream my way across the lake before plunging myself into the water below. When I come up for air, Edward is cheering at my success.
Like he does every day.
Now that I've experienced every season here at the cabin, I can't decide which one I like best. Fall introduces the cold weather, changes the trees into deep reds and yellows and oranges that remind me of home. Winter is cold and bright and full of days lost between the covers, searching for the warmth that only a lover can bring. Spring brings rebirth; the flowers and trees, like us, come back to life to remind us how beautiful things in this world are supposed to be.
But there's nothing like summer.
Summer is food cooked outside over the fire after a long day of hiking and lake-jumping, apparently. It's crickets outside by the bonfire and lots of exposed skin, begging to be explored. Summer is barbeques with Esme and growing my own vegetable garden.
I watch Edward from the window in his cabin as him and Esme bring a cooler of fresh fish caught from the lake.
Winter, spring, summer or fall - they're all the same with Edward.
He's the season of love, and it's by far my favorite.
We've made it back to summer! Which means September is fast approaching -and a certain character, as well. Buckle up!
If you want to hear the song I've chosen for this story, listen to Light by Sleeping At Last. The lyrics and everything are just perfect!
In other exciting news, my latest story will begin posting this Sunday, September 19th! It will also be featured on The Lemonade Stand today, so if you're interested in reading a Sneak Peek at my latest fic, Unspoken, head on over to TLS!
Thank you, as always, for all your support in this adventure. See you tomorrow!