The Last Summer Games

Long shadows were created across the field by the low sun. While the warmth remained consistent with previous summers, Sarah, Emily, Jake, and Max experienced a distinct summer. This summer was their last together before they all moved to separate parts of the nation. They stood on the brink of one last chapter for the time being, yet college, employment, and life outside their small village awaited them.

It had always been their custom to attend the summer games. The four of them would yearly, like clockwork, register for the town's relay race, a lighthearted, low-key event that had grown into something more. It was their ritual, their friendship solidified over years of inside jokes, laughter, and sometimes clumsiness in the dirt. Winning wasn't the point. It has to do with spending time together.

However, the atmosphere this summer was distinct, heavy with unspoken farewells and the anguish of impending change. They gathered at the park like they always did, a little earlier than necessary, eager to spend as much time together as possible. The field was a sea of people, families cheering, kids running through sprinklers, and competitors stretching on the sidelines. But all Sarah could think about was how, in just a few weeks, everything would be different.

With her sketchbook in hand and ready to record the world as she saw it, Emily was headed to New York to pursue her studies in painting. The tallest member of the group and the one who always had the greatest smile, Jake had received admission to a prominent engineering program in California, which was located across the country. Quieter than he was, but no less significant, Max was on his way to Chicago to begin his photographic career. And Sarah? She was going to the nearby college and would remain put. She had tried for more, it's only that remaining felt like a betrayal in comparison to her buddies.

They sat in a circle, stretching and talking about nothing in particular half-hearted attempts to pretend things were the same. “You ready to lose again this year?” Jake teased, nudging Max with his elbow.

Max rolled his eyes but smiled. “As long as you don’t trip like last time, we should be fine.” Emily laughed, but it felt forced. “I swear, you guys are the only people who could turn a fun relay into a drama-filled event.” “Maybe it’s because we care too much,” Sarah said, trying to sound playful, but the words hung in the air, heavier than intended.

For a brief period, they all became silent as the realization of the truth settled amongst them. Those were their final summer games. This was their final moment together. When Sarah realized that no amount of humor or teasing could stop what was about to happen, her heart constricted.

Not long after, the race started. As they had done for the previous seven summers, they formed a line at the starting point. Sarah was the first to get it home, followed by Max at the handoff point, Emily, then Jake. They waited for the signal for a brief while in silence.

Sarah felt her heart race. Even though she was typically quick, the stakes were really high tonight. She took off as soon as the whistle blew, the wind whipping past her face and her legs working automatically. Her focus wasn't on the race, though. She was remembering how Jake would consistently break the rules, only for Max to scold him with a frustrated yet amused smile, or how Emily's giggle would always fill the void left by their late night after a game.

She could see Max ahead, waiting for the baton. She reached out, but her hand wavered for a split second, just enough to throw her off balance. She tripped, the baton slipping from her grasp and hitting the ground. The gasp from the crowd was audible.

“Sarah!” Max called, rushing to help her up.

“I’m fine,” she muttered, quickly grabbing the baton and handing it over. But she wasn’t fine. The race was lost now, and the guilt settled heavily in her chest.

Max took off, and Sarah watched from the sidelines, wiping her hands on her shorts, frustration boiling inside her. She hadn’t just dropped the baton she felt like she’d let them all down.

By the time Jake finished the race, the other teams were already celebrating. They came in last. “Well, that went about as expected,” Emily said, trying to laugh, but it came out hollow.

Jake slapped a hand on Sarah’s shoulder. “Hey, it’s just a game.” “I know,” Sarah replied, but her throat was tight, her voice barely a whisper. It wasn’t just a game. It was their last game.

They lingered on the field long after everyone else had gone home. The sun was beginning to set, bathing the sky in hues of pink and orange. It felt like the world was painting them a farewell. “I can’t believe this is it,” Emily said softly, sitting down on the grass. “I mean, it’s not like we’ll never see each other again, right?”

Jake laughed, but there was an edge to it. “Yeah, sure, we’ll all visit during the holidays, maybe over the summer. But it won’t be the same.” Max sat with his back to Emily, staring out to sea. "It will never be identical."

Sarah attempted to keep herself together by standing slightly apart from them and crossing her arms. She surprised herself by blurting out, "I'm sorry." "I apologize for dropping the baton. I apologize for not accompanying you folks. I simply... I'm afraid you won't remember me once you're all gone.

Max quietly followed, and Emily joined in, putting her arms around them both. The four of them stood there, clinging to one another as though their proximity could stop what was about to happen. Emily muttered, "It doesn't matter if we're in New York, California, or Chicago." "This will always be there."

And in that moment, under the fading summer sky, surrounded by the echoes of laughter and shared memories, they realized that while everything was about to change, some things would always remain the same.