Waking up to Jackson jumping on my bed isn't the best start to my Thursday off of school, but who am I to complain? At least he isn't barging in yelling like Travis would have. He flaps something in my face, and I swat him away.

I sit up, taking the object from him. The surface is dry against my fingers, and a lip on the back leads me to believe it's an envelope. My fingers slide over gems on the front, and I can easily feel the letters T A Y. The thought put into the gesture makes my heart swell.

"What -"

"Hush and just open it." The words come out in a rush like he's excited.

When I open it, it dawns on me that I can't read whatever is in it. Whoever came up with this apparently didn't think this through. It's a good thing they sent Jackson, then.

I'm about to hand the paper to Jackson when my fingers brush over small bumps in the parchment. Braille? As my fingertips brush over the dimpled paper, the familiar symbols click in my mind. I didn't tell anyone that I was learning it other than Emori.

Stupid. You should have realized it was Emori from the start.

"You were never one for romantic things, but you're going to suffer through it today. Sorry, not sorry." I laugh and read on, "Go to the place where it all started. When you thought you lost everything."

What? Where I lost everything? The only place I've ever lost anything is the football fields where I lost games.

Oh, wait.

"Jackson, help me." I reach out for his arm and grasp it as I stand up. I don't bother changing as I fumble down the steps and out the door in my sweats and baggy t-shirt.

The intersection where the crash happened isn't far from my house. Going back to it will bring on emotions I've tried hard to bury, but I'm confident this is where Emori wants me to go. Where else did I lose something big?

"Do you see anything?" I nudge Jackson when we reach the intersection. I'm not sure what he will be looking for, but if either of us is going to find something, it will probably be him. Meanwhile, I'll be trying not to break down.

"Uh..." Jackson disappears from my side, and I feel completely exposed. The memories of what happened here hit me like a flash flood. I remember the headlights shining through the driver's side of the window just before a vehicle collided with ours. Going in and out of consciousness and seeing my brother's lively hazel eyes turn dull and listless. All of it smashes into me.

"Jackson?" I stumble forward, arms searching for my friend. I can't stand being alone at this place.

"I'm just... Found it!" He comes back and hands me what I assume is a ribbon. Something tugs on the end of the ribbon, and I pull it closer to me. I take a deep breath and run my shaking hands over the object.

"Is that a balloon?" What in the world am I supposed to do with a balloon?

"Yeah. But I think there's something in it."

When I shake the balloon, something bounces around inside it. "Hm. I guess there is." But how should I pop it? I don't want to squeeze it until it pops right here in the intersection and chance scaring a driver. "Got a pen?"

He stays silent for a moment, and I imagine he's giving me a look like, are you dumb? "Of course, I have a pen."

I roll my eyes and hold my hand out for the pen. When he hands it to me, I tuck the balloon in my shirt to muffle the sound and pop it, catching another paper in my hand. This one is in Braille as well, but with more difficult words.

"Glad you found this one. I tried to make it simple, but the next one won't be as easy," I read. Great. She's gonna make it hard on me. Nothing like a good brain teaser to lighten up my morning. "This next place is somewhere you'll rarely ever find drama. But you do find friends here."

"She wasn't kidding when she said it was gonna be hard." Jackson groans. "Drama is everywhere."

That doesn't matter. The 'friends' thing is what gives it all away. Drama is prevalent at the diner, but not at the library. And the library just happens to be where Emori used to spend her lunches and free periods. I grab Jackson's arm and drag him back to my house. "Drive me to the school."

He hesitates but complies.

As soon as we make it to the school, I jump out and run through the school to the library, with Jackson shouting directions as he follows behind me. By now he seems to have gotten the routine and goes about looking for the next clue. He comes back after a few minutes with a box.

"Here." He hands it to me without another word.

I pull the lid off the box and pull out the content. It's something smooth and soft, but I can't quite make out what it is. Maybe a blanket of some sort?

"Is there anything else?" I think out loud. When I feel the bottom of the box, there's nothing there.

Damn, no note. This is going to be the most difficult clue. A blanket can mean so many things.

Oh, wait.

"Prairifire Hill Park," I say before jogging back out to Jackson's SUV.

It doesn't take long to get to the park, but it feels like forever as I wait for Jackson to get us there. The closer we get to the park, the more voices I can hear, and the more confused I become. I thought it would just be Emori with the way she planned this out.

"Emori's here, but your parents are too." Jackson puts the SUV into park and helps me out.

Is he in on this? What is this? It isn't my birthday, and Emori and I aren't officially together or anything as far as I know. So, what is the occasion?

"Tay!" Emori appears at my side and grabs my arm. "Took you long enough. I was beginning to think my clues were too hard!"

"Those clues were the easiest thing I've ever had to figure out," I lie and poke her with my elbow. "I wish all my tests were that easy."

She hmphs and pulls me toward what I assume is the park's gazebo. All the voices here are silent, and two figures approach me.

"Emori, honey, I know you're super excited about whatever you're planning, but what did you bring us here for?" Ma sounds nervous, and I can feel my father's concerned gaze weighing heavily on me.

I'm wondering the same thing. There isn't a special occasion for us to all be gathered in one spot, though I suspect it's just us and my friends. Did I forget about something? Emori will kill me if it's something important.

"Lottie?" Emori calls, waiting for my sister to step forward. Grass shuffles, and she continues, "I know Tay will never accept this if I give it directly to him, but..." She pauses for dramatic effect and takes a deep breath. "That fundraiser on Sunday wasn't just any fundraiser. It was for Tay. More specifically, the surgery to get his sight back. We got all the money you need."

My mouth drops open, and I stare, not blinking for a moment. The surgery? I bite my lip to keep from crying out. My eyes sting and my pinned lip quivers.

Ma doesn't stay as strong. She sobs loudly and after a moment, the sound is muffled as if her face is pressed up against something else. My dad sighs and reaches over to pat me on the head.

I stand still, too shocked to move.

We can actually afford the surgery. There's a chance that the life I've prepared for won't be my reality.

I can't fight the emotions anymore. When I shift myself away from everyone's prying gazes, the tears fall free and slide down my cheeks in rapid succession. I might see again! The news hits me like a train and sends a rushing, dizzying feeling through my brain.

"Tay?" Emori's hand touches my arm, jolting me back to reality.

I sniff, wiping my face. The sweet scent of her perfume surrounds me, and she cups my face in her hands, whispering something that I can't make out.

She really did it. To think that she went through all of this just to help me get the surgery makes everything feel like a dream

I jab my thumbnail into my hand. Nope, not dreaming.

"I can't thank you enough." I pull her to my chest. Thankfully, she's not startled. Instead, she wraps her arms around my waist and hugs me back. "I can't believe you did all this for me."

"Why wouldn't I?" She raises her head to look at me.

We stand there in that position for a moment while I process everything. Not just the money. Our whole relationship. The first time I said hi to her in kindergarten. Endless playdates in our backyards as kids. Her sweet grin that would brighten even the darkest of days. And finally, our picnic date.

Was I really so mentally blind for so long that it took being physically blinded to realize what has been standing right in front of me?

"Hey, Emori?"

"Yeah?" She raises her head again.

"Thank you."

"You're -"

I cut her off by leaning down until my mouth connects with hers. Her lips are soft and plump, and I don't want to ruin that by smashing them against mine.

The kiss is over a little quicker than I want it to be, but with everyone watching, I don't want to embarrass her any more than I probably already have.

I open my mouth to say something, but Ma cuts me off, "Emori, this is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for us. I don't know what I would do without you." She knocks me out of the way as she rushes toward Emori. "Of all things I expected to happen when the news of the surgery got out, I never would have expected this."

My dad walks up to me and plants his hand on my shoulder. "I agree. It's hard to accept help like this, but I don't think we can say no. Not if it will give Tay the chance to have a normal life again."

"Good, because I don't think I could live with myself if I let you turn this down," Emori says and everyone laughs. "I'm glad school was closed today for parent-teacher conferences, because I don't think I could have waited, otherwise."

"I should call the doctor," Ma says. "I gotta go home and check the calendar and figure everything out. Thank you so much, again, Emori."

As my parents walk away, Emori turns to me. "You okay?"

I nod. "Yeah. I just have something I have to do before I go home. Can you lead me to the lock?"

"Yeah, sure."

Once we get to the lock, Emori says, "I'll be just up the path if you need me."

I nod and walk to the bank, plopping down in the sand. I pull off my shoes and stick my feet in the water.

Air whistles around me for a bit as I sit in silence, the wind pulling the end of my hair and scattering them. The air smells the same as it always has, like watered-down fossil fuels and fish. I still love it though. Gavin and I used to come here all the time when we were younger. He would tell me all kinds of stories about high school and what it was like to be popular.

"I'm not sure if you can hear me," I say into the silence, "but... I'm here. It's our place, so you better be here."

I can almost hear his deep chuckling as I wait. Sometimes it feels like he's still here. Like he and I are in the same place at the same time. It's impossible, and I know that, but part of me believes he's here. I can't let myself believe he's really gone.

"You should see Emori." I grab a handful of sand and let it slide through my fingers. I used to talk to him about Emori all the time. He always told me she was the best catch in either of our lives, even as just a friend. "Well, I should see her too since I haven't yet, but you get my point. We kissed for the first time a few days ago, you know."

The water licks at my bare feet, almost like a response. "She just... perplexes me. She helped get all the money for my surgery, even though I've been an ass to everyone lately. It... It amazes me." My voice breaks on the last word, and I take a deep breath.

My shoulders get cold, and I shiver but continue, "It should have been me, man. I should have forced you to let me drive."

I sigh and bring my knees to my chest, I bump my wrist off my knee several times. "You should have known better, man. We both should have." I run my hands through my hair and shake my head. "Just... know that I love you, okay?"

The wind blows again, and I leave.