Dear Summer,

The sun melted behind the buildings while the clouds grew gray and wild. It was a humid summer day and my sister Shannon and I were on my way to my grandparents’ house. My grandparents’ house was our sweet escape. No overprotective father or overworked mother but grandparents that welcomed us warmly and appreciated our presence.

We honored that but vaguely took advantage of their old age and enjoyed some summer excursions. There were two brothers that Shannon and I ran through the summer with butterflies for. That humid summer day is when it all began. They lived about four blocks away from my grandparents. Left turn on Walker Avenue, then a straight walk up to Magenta Road and Boom! The Butterfly Brothers; that is what we will call them!

I cannot speak for Shannon or for the brother of the brother that I fell in love with, but I can speak for myself. This was the first time I was enamored with a person. It happened suddenly, like a bike going downhill and was hard to stop. No matter how much you try to use your legs as breaks to slow down the speed; you are going, you are moving, you are speeding and scared to fall and yes, I fell.

A week before pedaling in love, I was in California visiting colleges. I just ended my junior year, the most important year of high school (as my teachers would say) and wanted to get a taste of the college life! I have always been interested in so many things as a girl from New York City and dreamed of moving to California for college. Acting, singing, dancing, the whole nine. I was sure that I wanted to study art or writing.

If I was not going to be the face of the art, I could always be the brains of the art by songwriting, script writing or just a freelance journalist or writer. California was amazing but these colleges were so expensive. The tuition was 50k plus for a year of college. That would mean I would need $200,000.00 for my four years. This really gave me anxiety that my dream of moving to California and going to a school of arts was less attainable because expenses. I returned to the city a bit stressed, but my summer love helped those feelings go away.

So who is this person, right? His name was Guy. I know what you’re thinking, Guy? The most handsome men sometimes have weird names. He was attractive, but what is looks without books? I am into conversation, intellectual debates and walks on the beach. Did he fit the script?

He did! Extremely well spoken, dressed and a smile that made my cheeks burst into roses. He was a gentleman and a genius. He was sarcastic yet amusing. He matched my amazing, which is an arduous task.

On that humid summer day, I saw him across the street and waved to him out of pure friendliness and no intention to introduce myself. He waved back and gestured to me to cross the street. Shannon hesitated, but I did not. I looked left and right to make sure no cars were coming and walked across the street and introduced myself.

"Hey, my name is Summer, Nice to meet you."

"My name is Guy, a pleasure to meet you."

“Where are you two heading?”

“My grandparents live up the block. We visit them on the weekends.

And you?”

“I just got a haircut, something told me to come outside, and I am glad I did. Its fate.” He chuckled

We exchanged each other’s numbers and from there it was history.

Every week, I was going to my grandparents to see them and somehow squeeze him in my errands.

Grandmaaaaaaa I am going to the store to buy Guy, I mean Gum.

Grandpaaaaaaa, I forgot to pick something up from the store, I am going back.

Do you all need anything from the grocery store?

Guy would meet me between Walker and Magenta, we would talk and laugh until we cried. We had some much in common, honestly he became my best friend.

One day, I received a text from Guy. It was a picture of me as a child. This photo was not on social media or something I sent in the past. I was toothless and careless with my fashion.

I called the Guy right away.

“Are you stalking me? How did you get that picture?”

“ I bumped into your grandmother today walking home. She had far too many bags and I offered to help her. I didn’t know that was your grandmother until I saw your picture on the wall in her house. Those eyes, I know those eyes; you were toothless but the eyes sold it.”

“Interesting, delete the picture!”

“I don’t think so! I like toothless Summer and hey why haven’t you mentioned to me that your Grandfather was sick?”

“Sick, I never mentioned it because he’s not sick. Old. Yes but not sick”

“Really, your grandmother mentioned he had cancer and that's why she was going to the grocery store alone. That your grandpa usually holds her bags, Maybe I heard wrong, but definitely speak with her.”

There was an awkward silence on the phone, I did not know what to say or to think. If this was true why would Grandma tell a stranger and not her own family? Did anyone know or was I the only one that was in the dark? I told GUY that I will speak to him later and ended our call.

That same day, After my mom came from work I asked her “Is grandpa sick?, Is that the reason you and Dad suddenly have been allowing Shannon and I to go there every weekend?"

She paused and sighed.

“Summer. I didn't want you to find out this way. We wanted to tell you, but we know how close you are with your grandfather, we didn't want to scare you”.

I walked out the kitchen and slammed my room door. For a week, I was silent. I did not speak to anyone, including Guy. My family gave me my space and Guy eventually did too. He texted and called me constantly. I ignored him. The summer ended and September was here. We both returned to school and started our senior year separately.

My Grandpa grew sicker. Shannon and I continued to go there every weekend. This time no fake store runs to see Guy, but standing by the real GUY of my life my Grandpa.

We came up with an idea, that while my Grandpa was here we would make an archive in a little black book of photos of us all. In this book we made a list of things that my grandpa wanted to do for the month. From September until June we did his top ten things.

September - Teaching Shannon and I his secret recipes

October- Making Pumpkin Pie from scratch

November- A Big Dinner at My Grandparents

December- Holidays in Hawaii

January- Ice skating

February- Building A Snowman

March- Attending a basketball game

April- Starting a Garden

May- Helping me pick out my Prom

May was a huge month for me. My Prom and Birthday were all in the same month. I was turning 18. I would be considered legal! I was excited for prom.

My Grandparents and I went dress shopping for me and we found the perfect dress. Our Prom theme was A Midnight Summer Dream and I was so excited. We picked out a strapless emerald mermaid dress that was just gorgeous. I tried on the dress, it was beautiful, I felt like I belonged on the front of a magazine. My Grandpa held my hand tight and said.

“I am so proud of the lady you’ve become, you look beautiful, now all you need is a date.”

A smirk ran across my grandmother's face, she nodded and snapped a picture of my grandfather and I.

A week Later was my Prom. My Grandpa told me to come over before I left for prom so he can put my corsage on and take photos of and with me.

When I arrived at my Grandparents house, there was a huge limo in front of their garden.

I blushed and almost cried but didn’t want to mess up my makeup.

“Happy Early Birthday Summer!” My grandparents screamed.

I ran to them and hugged them both.

“You didn’t have to! Thank you so much!”

“We’ll see you when you get back, Have fun sweetie”

I lifted the bottom of my dress and went into the Limo. As I turned my body the opposite way to turn into the Limo, I saw GUY. He was in a black tux, and had a white shirt and emerald green tie and green shoes.

Butterflies struck my stomach, I was smiling ear to ear.

I had not spoken to the guy since I discovered my grandpa had cancer and there he was ready to take me back with open arms.

I rolled down my window and told my grandparents I loved them. Guy held me close and kissed me on my forehead and said " You look beautiful, I miss those eyes.”

Everything was perfect that day. It felt like a fairy tale. We arrived at my Prom, danced the night away and the Limo returned us home after a beautiful day of surprises.

The surprises continued. When I reached home there was a large envelope on my bed. I assume it was a Birthday card, so I placed it on my dresser and waited til the next day to open it.

I woke up a year older, I opened the envelope and it was my acceptance to The School of Arts in California. I was so ecstatic! I called my parents and jumped for joy with them. I called Guy and told him to meet me at my grandparents house! My Grandma made dinner for the family. My Grandpa made me a homemade cake. We took pictures to add to our archives. Everything was perfect.

I spent the weekend with my grandparents. I felt like the luckiest girl in the world. I went to school on Monday, June 1st, ready to graduate and take on the world. It was spirit week at school and this Monday was rep your college . We rocked the colleges that we got accepted to and the teachers told us about their college experience to the students.

As my teacher said how proud she was of each and every one of us the phone rang. ...................

"Summer, please go to the main office, your parents are here to pick you up, bring all of your things."

I gathered my belongings and headed to the main office. My parents were sitting down. My Father’s hand was placed on my mothers left knee and my mothers head was down.

I stood in front of them and My mom lifted her head slowly,

“It's papa, He’s gone baby.”

My heart dropped and my knees grew weak. I collapsed to the ground and began to cry. My parents gathered me up and we went home. When I came home, Grandma was on the couch holding our little black book of archives. She stood up.

"I have something to give to you. Your grandpa wanted to wait until your graduation."

She passed me a small gift box. She told me to open it. In the gift box was a Moleskine book, a letter from my grandfather and a check for 20,000.

Dear Summer,

This past year with you has been some of the best days of my life. Watching you grow into the woman you are has been an honor. I love you more than words can say. Congratulations!

Yours Truly,

Grandpa.