summer day

the day began the way summer days always should slow and golden like it had nowhere else to be.

she stepped outside barefoot the wooden porch already warm under hey feet the air smelled like cut grass and sunscreen and somewhere down the street a lawn mower hummed lazily as if even it didn't want to work too hard.

she tied her hair up with a ribbon she'd found on her desk sun faded but still pretty and squinted at the sky.

No clouds just blue stretched wide and endless.

she rode her bike with no destination the wind tugging at her shirt her laughter spilling out before she could stop it the sun followed her everywhere glinting off car windows dancing in the spokes of her wheels.

when she passed the corner store the bell rang as she pushed the door open and she bought a popsicle she chose purely by color.

by noon she lay in the grass at the park arms spread watching the trees sway like they were whispering secrets to each other time felt softer here.

No edges just cicadas buzzing and the steady rhythm of her own breathing.

she closed her eyes and let the warmth sink into her skin as if summer itself were memorizing her.

in the afternoon she met friend by the river shoes were abandoned in a messy pile.

Feet splashed someone played music from a phone speaker tinny but joyful.

she laughed until her stomach hurt until her cheeks ached until the world narrowed down to nothing but sunlight on water and the sound of her name being called.

when evening came the sky blushed pink and she sat on the hood of a car eating watermelon juice running down her wrist.

fireflies blinked on like tiny stars that had drifted too low.

she caught one carefully gently then let it go watching it flicker back into the dark.

later lying in bed with the window open she listened to night settle in the heat lingered.

the air hummed her skin still smelled like sun.

she smiled to herself knowing this day wouldn't last but also knowing it would never really leave her some summers don't.