hi stackers,
as a way to document some of my book writing journey, i will be posting excerpts now and then of my first draft! these may or may not be out of order, and i want to highlight some of my favorite parts of what i have so far. take care, and enjoy this little snippet!
- your favorite bookstastacker
The 7:30pm weather is especially perfect this evening. It’s warm enough to be outside without a jacket, and the sounds of the breeze passing through the waist high grass creates a peaceful ambience. Longer days mean more light outside, and the blazing hot sun of the summer day has begun to fall. Kai and I are taking in the changing sunset. We are both sitting on a plush, light brown blanket with our hands propping us up, with the basket of snacks opened up right in between us. It turns the sky and accompanying clouds into a cotton candy array of colors. A gradient of purples, blues, and pinks are being painted across this tiny fraction of the Universe’s infinite canvas. As the sun continues to fall, it begins to bathe everything around us in golden hour light. My favorite time of the day.
With our snacks pretty much gone, I pop the last strawberry piece into my mouth. After finishing up, I ask, “Tell me your most unfiltered truths, feelings, or thoughts. If there’s anything that ponders your mind, I want to hear it before you leave.”
Another special thing about The Hills is Kai and I get to spill our guts out here. This is where we can go deep into honesty, no matter how weird, bizarre, or taboo things going on in our lives currently are, or seem to get. No judgment allowed.
There is silence for a good few seconds. I look over to see Kai laid out, and propped up on one elbow. He’s swirling his half shot of Umeshu around, contemplating his answer while looking out at the sunset that continues changing colors. He finishes the rest of his drink, and sets the empty glass down right next to him. After standing up and brushing some dried bits of dried up grass off of his sweatpants, he extends his hand toward me.
I look at it in slight suspicion, and take it anyway. Pulling me up with minimal effort, he turns toward his backpack and begins to reply with his answer.
“I feel like Soccer has encompassed so much of my life. So,why not take the shot and try it out for real ya know?” He unzips the big pocket, and I realize what he is doing almost instantly. It’s that time of day for some evening touches, a favorite pastime of ours, especially during the summer nights. I walk a few feet away from him to gives us some distance. He sets the ball down at his feet, and puts his hands on his hips as he continues with his answer. “It’s a crazy going abroad, let alone for three months doing the thing I love the most. So this is out of my comfort zone entirely.”
He kicks the ball toward me, and I stop it with my foot before kicking it back toward him. We establish this back and forth rhythm of passes as he continues with his thoughts. The sun finally dips down into the horizon, and it is easy to notice the brightest stars in the sky coming out from hiding.
“But it’s also crazy to think what I would be leaving out on the table if I don’t go. I’m tired of being stuck inside of my head with the What If’s and What Could Be’s, like, ‘What if I actually make a name for myself out there? What if I don’t go, and all opportunities to play for real are lost? What if I am signed right away, or what if I'm not?’ At the end of the day, I just don’t want to live with any regrets knowing I tried everything I could.”