A summer that scarred me for life.

I began my day normally like any other teen would: drinking my coffee with an extra shot of expresso and scrolling through my phone. My head was still buzzing with excitement.

My birthday.... My 18th birthday was tomorrow.

I was still imagining all the exciting things I am gonna be able to do: finally get a drivers lesson, move out and most importantly have fun tomorrow. When my moms voice broke me out of my imagination bubble "Hailey? are you up already?". I chuckled my mom was the person who understood me best. I could go on and on about her but i needed to respond back "Yeah MOM, I'm up and had my breakfast already. I was just about to head out".

she climbed down the stairs and gave me a hug as she said "Okay honey, just make sure to be back by noon we have a spa day planned out remember?" I nodded "yeah mom, but i need to get going me and bailey are heading to the lake and then the park for a morning activity". She gave a puzzled loom as she asked "already? I mean its the first week of your holidays" I calmly countered "I know mom but we decided that this year we are going to make the most of it" she nodded. and I let go of the hug.

We exchanged goodbyes and I hopped on to my bike in the garage and pedaled away. I was just a few houses apart from bailey so i reached her house pretty quick. When I reached I got off my bike and parked it in my customized spot, baileys parents treated me as their own so they had a room and bike spot just for me whenever i was over since me and bailey were friends since we were toddlers.

I was still thinking about all the summers I spent in their backyard playing in the playground or swimming in their pool while her dad made us barbeque. When her mom spotted me and walked out to greet me. "hi Hailey! Bailey is just having breakfast come inside and have some with us. I made blueberry pancakes!" she said cheerfully. Well i wanted to decline her offer but who could decline an offer that good so I greeted her too and walked in.

bailey was sitting in her normal chair in a pair of black biker shorts and a white Boston off shoulder t-shirt with a black tank top underneath and a pair of black adidas. The exact same outfit as me. WOW! I guess it makes sense since we both have been together since we were 2 so probably Twin Telepathy. She was devouring a tower of blueberry pancakes topped of with fresh fruit: raspberry, blueberry and strawberry with a cup of cappuccino on the side . Just the way I'd eat mine, I walked over took out a chair and sat beside her. She said hi, and we talked for a while until her mom waked out holding a plate with blueberry pancakes stacked as tower and handed them to me and winked.

We both finished and hopped onto hour bikes and headed out. We cycled around the entire neighborhood, fed the fishes in the pond and took cute selfies in the park. When....

I got the call. That one call shattered my life completely. It was from the St. Mary's hospital, I picked it up thinking it would be about the vitamins i needed. As soon as I picked it up "hi this is lucy from St. Mary's hospital. Is this Hailey Johnson", " yes how can i help you ", "Your mother has unfortunately passed away due to a serious heart attack this morning and was found to late. My Condolences to you". At first i thought it was a prank call but when she sent the hospital records, Tears started rolling down my cheeks uncontrollably my knees buckled and Hailey struggled to keep me from falling.

I rushed to the hospital but what the call informed wasn't a lie. my mom was peacefully sleeping but the heartrate machines showed a straight line. She wasn't with us anymore. But, she was still clutching onto her purse which contained a advanced transaction for our spa day that evening, a small envelope which had a card inside which read:

Dear Hailey, Congratulations for turning 18, I am so proud of the person you are becoming. I want to tell you how much i value your future choices and trust you. Just an early birthday present

P.S: Check the Garage!

I was just putting it back in when a credit card dropped out with my name on it. There was a small sticky note attached to it that read: Happy 18 birthday Hailey. Here's a small early present for you.

I burst out crying beside her. I softly whispered between my sobs " I didn't want this I just wanted to finally spend time with you". Bailey was comforting me. A while later Bailey's mom arrived with swollen eyes which looked like she was crying (my mom and Mrs. Dorothy were best friends) her eyes were red she walked over toward me and hugged me tight and whispered "I am sorry honey all of us are devastated because of this loss"

A Few hours later....

A lawyer knocked on my doorstep, I was still shaken from today. but I still let him in. He sat on our kitchen table and pointed me to sit Infront of him. I sat Infront of him and he began "I am your lawyer. your mother left behind a will that states -" he took out a huge folder from his briefcase and continued " I hereby give my property on 15 Maplewood street in Boston, 1.93 million dollars in my bank account and all of my shares in the stock market to my daughter Hailey "

I was stunned she left her mansion, 4 millions dollars worth of stock hold's, 1.93 million dollars in a bank card and on top of that a bank card for my 18 birthday gift with 500,00 dollars in it, to me?? ME??.

he handed me a card and left without another word the next day the papers for the house, stock hold's and a bank card with all her money were processed under my name and shipped to me .

The next day all of my relatives found out about my mothers death and were expecting her assets to be equally distributed but were furious when they found out her will and said that i sabotaged it but my mom placed it under a trusted source. So they legally couldn't fight it.

But It wasn't good news for me either, a few days in and i could hear footsteps coming from all over the house, footsteps of people walking through. Even though the house was empty, i was still heavily burdened by my sudden loss and the loss of my mother a day before my 18th birthday and the regret of not staying with her was eating me alive.

The stock market was also dropping rapidly and i knew nothing about the stocks unlike my mom I suffered a 500,000 dollar loss. I withdrew the rest of the remaining amount. and sold the house. I was planning to go away without telling Bailey because goodbyes are the hardest part. But just as I was about to head out. Like if on cue Bailey showed up.

"you are leaving aren't you ?" I nodded and she hugged me tight, I hugged her back. " I am moving across towns the house is the root of my problems" ."Just remember I will never forget you " I cried and she cried along with me until i had to say the unforgiving phrase "Goodbye Bailey" she replied " Goodbye Hailey" with the most bitter-sweet smile i ever saw on her as i was moving I could see her crying.

But sometimes the hardest part is to say goodbye to the ones most dearest to you for your better life, mental health and appreciation. I meet bailey ever holiday and weekend but it never feels the same but her and her family made sure to be there every step of my journey to keep cheering me on and motivating me to go farther.