Panama City Beach, Florida

The cool chill of the morning whipped through our hair, while the wind caught our yawns and whispers. As we packed the last of our things into the back of the car, our excitement began to bubble. We giggled and talked, despite our exhaustion, letting the excitement of new possibilities and adventures awaken us. As we drove into the still dark sky, we felt the freedom of our lives. 

With the help of caffeine and loud music we were soon awake, and we talked cheerfully about our destination, even though we know our travel was still long ahead of us. We had just graduated high school, and the endless opportunities of summer and beyond lay ahead. We had been planning our trip since December, when we were already aching for the warmth of the sun and the feeling that nothing in the world was as important as a single moment. 

Our drive was long that day, but our spirits remained high. We laughed and talked, happy to share the time with one another. We all knew in the back of our minds that this was our last real chance to be together. The freedoms of the future also led us in different paths, and though we would remain friends, it would never be quite the same. But it was summer, and we let our worries wait for us with the arrival of fall. 

It was dark when we finally arrived, and we walked through the moonlight in the sand. This place that we had dreamed of for months was real; our life as we dreamed it was finally happening. Our joy was undeniable, and that moment remains permanently etched in my mind to this day. 
 It was the undeniable sense of freedom - knowing that we had only the road ahead of us, and we could take it anywhere we wanted to. We were young and we were free, as we travelled on.