First things first:

What should I wear for my first day outside in over a month?

It's still summer, so nothing too warm.

Maybe a dress? Or a T-shirt with shorts?

I'll converse with Kathleen.

We decide on a simple outfit for each of us:

Kathleen's Outfit-

A rainbow tie-dye T-shirt with black bikers shorts.

Hair-

Two french braids that wrap around her head and end behind her ears, pinned in place by two lime green bobby pins.

My Outfit-

A plain, white, button-up blouse with a pair of ripped, gray jean shorts.

Hair-

A single bun with a lavender blue scrunchie covering the ponytail holder.

Simple, but stylish.

Also, confidence. We need that self-confidence.

Today, I finally got to meet Kathy's parents. Her mom; Amanda Churchill, and her dad; Brad Churchill.

They are basically identical to Kathy. Except, her mom is older, and her dad is older, and he is a male. Duh.

Kathy had already met my mom.

My dad died when I was young.

The most important part of my story that I completely forgot to mention. What kind of a person am I to forget that very important detail!?

Stop, you are going to make me cry.

Neither of us has any siblings.

So that is one other thing that we have in common other than enjoying Gossip Girls, High School Musical : The Musical : The Series, SNL, YouTube, instagram, and we both suffer from hallucinations. 

(Part 2)

Kathleen and I are sitting in the waiting room, waiting for our parents and Lisa to lead us into the unknown.

"Nina, Kathleen! Are the two of you ready to go?" That's my mom.

We both jump up and turn around to see my mom and both of Kathy's parents standing in the entrance doors of the hospital.

The two of us shriek "YES!" and scramble through the aisles of leather chairs with the plastic armrests and hurdle over the two wooden coffee tables towards the three adults who look like their smiles could fall off of their faces.

Kathy and I almost crash into them as we almost literally are skipping hand in hand to the front doors.

We both close our eyes, slowly inhale, hold hands, and take the two needed steps through the clouded glass of the two sliding doors and make our way into the unknown. 

(Part 3) 

And end up in the underground parking lot.

Wow.

What a waste of important energy. Wonder if a tour of the lot is the first destination. Very scenic.

We both immediately give our parents these "And how do you explain this?" looks. They all point simultaneously to a white door at the edge of the lot with a sign above it that reads; "Aboveground Stairway".

Getting the idea, Kathy and I both whip our heads to look into each other's eyes. Both accepting the challenge, we start booking down the lanes of cars in an attempt to reach the door first.

I'm a good two yards (six feet) ahead of her when this silver BMW pulls backward out of a parking spot about three slots ahead of me.

I force my legs to stop moving and have to make several windmill motions with my arms to prevent myself from face planting on the stone-cold surface of the cement. (Again).

Then I remember the other human body that is barreling in the exact same direction I just was.

That human body who just happens to be Kathleen Churchill smacks into me and the force from the impact sends me almost literally flying across the lot. Covering at least five feet of distance doing so.

I end up sprawled on the cement about half of a slot away from the silver BMW that is now driving away, and up the ramp leading to the aboveground lot. Jerk.

From behind me I hear three pairs of feet pounding towards Kathy and I.

Then I hear two of those pairs of feet stop maybe four feet behind me and continue to hear one pair of feet advancing in my direction. Presumably, my mom.

"OHMYGODAREYOUOKAY!?!? AREYOUHURT?!?" Yep. My mom.

"Complete sentences, please."

"Oh thank goodness. I thought you were dead for sure." Thanks mom.

"NINA!" comes from behind me. I'm guessing that was Kathy.

"NINA I'M SO SORRY!" Yep. Kathy.

"I'm fine!" comes from my mouth.

Wasn't there two other people involved here? "NINA! KATHY!" Yep. Parents.

"I'M FINE!" I scream from my position on the cement.

I manage to get up and I am able to tell that I am not in any way injured.

By a quick inspection, I found no injuries on Kathy either.

Good? Good. We are all good.

Now. Let's continue to the door.

We get into running positions again. Like professionals from the Olympics.

"WALK!" shrieks my mother.

"Fine," we call back.

So, we WALK to the door and make our way up the stairs with our parents following closely behind. 

(Part 4) 

We are met with a sight of the city.

All of the skyscrapers and office buildings are just ahead of us. About six blocks in front of us.

Splayed out before us is a giant green lawn sprinkled with garden flowers.

I'm pretty sure that I am thinking the same exact thing Kathy is thinking when we both look back at the three adults with longing looks.

Waiting for permission to scramble through the bunches of dazzling flowers that were so gently planted.

They all nod their approval.

And we both take off like launched rockets.

As we fly through the beds of flowers, I can see hundreds of the following flowers:

Daisies.

Lilac bushes.

Lily of the Valley flowers.

Asters (long stemmed flowers).

Coneflowers.

Chrysanthemums.

Goldenrods.

Butterfly weed.

Asian Bleeding Hearts (more commonly known as just Bleeding Hearts).

Lady Slippers, and almost every other flower that exists in the state of Minnesota.

The fragrance of the flowers is overpowering, but it makes me feel like I am in a dream surrounded by the beautiful signs of life that thrive in this almost perfect, lush, green field.

Are we no longer wretched?

Is there any better scene to describe the word "paradise"?

Yes, we are still wretched.

Yes, this could be paradise.

Until the birds arrived.

Otherwise known as the "Government Spies".

Hold onto your seats everyone.

This paradise is about to blow up.