Page 90 of All I Want Is Love
“They should be,” Soren says. “Francesco is pretty desensitized, but let’s play it safe.” He gets up, taking the petsinside again, giving each of them some treats and closing the door.
“What is this?” I ask, looking at the thin metal stick.
“Sparklers,” Robin beams. “The best type of firework!”
“Oh!” I sit up straighter. “And we can just hold them like this?”
“Yes, they are super safe.”
“I bought them for my ex and me,” Michael says. “It was supposed to be a romantic evening. I decided it would be a waste not to bring them along.”
When each of us has a sparkler in our hands, he lights them. They glow golden, at first, before a shower of sparks appears from them. “Look!” Robin says, waving his sparkler and drawing a heart into the sky.
I feel like a little kid again, but I don’t mind. I jump up, standing next to him and drawing a heart myself, then a star.
When they are burned down, Michael hands out new ones. “I brought along plenty,” he reassures us.
With the next one, I draw the letter S in the air, trying to spell Soren’s name. Robin eventually turns around to look at the other three. “Don’t act like three old men,” he complains. “Especially not you, Soren! You have a hot young lover.”
“Alright, alright, you got us,” Soren says, standing up and joining us. Michael and Aspen follow suit. We put our sparklers together, watching the shower of sparks around us. It’s so beautiful. It makes my heart feel warm all of a sudden.
Aspen is right.
This is my chosen family.
They not only gave me a home, they made me feel at home. For the first time in my life, it’s okay to be who I am, it’s fine to be myself.
I have a home, found that spark for my work again, and I am surrounded by people I love.
Soren puts an arm around me, before taking my hand and drawing a heart with our two sparklers. I smile, the sparks around us lighting up the night in golden colors.
I am free.
I am happy.
I will be fine.
