Brock and Elise planned a camping trip with their daughter, Abby. They think that it will be more fun if they invite more people. So they called up Eric, Sam, Joseph, Matthew, Anna and Dennis to see if they want to go. They all agreed to go if Dennis could drive, since he has an SUV. Dennis agrees and they joined them on the trip. They arrived at the campsite at 3pm. Eric, Sam, Joseph, Matthew, Anna and Abby set up 3 tents. One for Eric, Sam, Joseph, and Dennis. One for Matthew and Anna. And one for Brock, Elise and Abby. Brock and Elise set up the campfire. Once they’re done, Brock went to the nearest pizza place and bought some pizzas, snacks and drinks. 

It was nighttime and it’s getting dark. Dennis started the fire on the fireplace Brock and Elise made. When the fire started to burn bright, they all gathered around the campfire. The sky is clear, and the stars have started to appear. “Dennis. Can you watch the fire for me tonight?” Brock asked. “I want to play the guitar tonight.” Dennis nodded. He got a large stack of wood and a stick beside him.

SPARK – Joseph went and boiled some water using a portable stove he had brought to the campsite. He boiled way too much water. So he poured 2 cups of hot water, and the rest, he put in his large thermos for other people to use. He added 2 green tea bags. One in each cup. He then went over to the campfire and gave a cup of green tea to Sam. “Here. Have this,” said Joseph. He gave Sam the cup of tea. Sam wrapped her hands around the cup. “Thanks,” she said. They both looked at the campfire. It was starting to get big, and the flames slowly began to burn bright. “So how was the move?” Sam asked Joseph. “You’ve been very busy for the past couple of weeks.” Joseph chuckled. “No kidding. It’s very stressful moving my belongings all by myself. My roommate was supposed to help me, but he was too busy hanging out with his girlfriend.” Sam shrugged. “I guess girlfriend prioritized moving.” “Yeah I guess so. I still have a ton of stuff to move to my place. I stored them in a self-storage unit at U-Haul for now. That will be a later problem. My back hurts from all the lifting.” Sam was staring at the fire while drinking her tea. “And you still managed to come here to join us for camping. What a trooper!” she said. “How’s your back now?” Joseph tries turning his back left and right. “I think it’s fine. I’m not feeling any pain right now.” Sam has some notion that Joseph is still in pain. “Joseph. Can you stand up for me?” “What? Why?” Sam stood up, grabbed Joseph by the hand, and pulled him up. Everyone around the campfire looked at them. “I just want to make sure you’re doing fine,” she said. She applies a little pressure on Joseph’s lower back. A sharp pain shocked him from his lower back, all the way to his entire spine. Sam laughed. “Just what I’ve thought. You’re still in pain. Here. Hold this for me, please.” She gave Joseph her cup of tea and went to her tent to grab her first-aid kit. She took out some instant heat packs with herbal medicine and applied them to Joseph’s lower back, where the pain is. “This may sting for a few hours. But you’ll feel better in the morning. I promise.” Joseph gives back Sam’s tea. “Thanks. I appreciate that,” he said. “I’m going to need it because I have to start moving the rest of my stuff to my place when this is over.” Sam feels bad for Joseph. “You know, I’m free on Monday if you want me to help you move all your stuff,” she said. He turned over to Sam. “You sure? You know you don’t have to do this.” “Yes, I’m sure,” Sam replied. “I got a minivan for us to use, so it’ll save you so much time. It’s my day off, so I’m free to help. Plus, that was my last heat sticker. I can’t patch you up again. Just take up the offer, man.” He laughed. “Okay, fine. As longas  you don’t hurt your back. You think you can handle that?” Sam scootched over to Joseph and giggled. “I think you should say that to yourself.”

GROWTH- “Hey Joseph!” Matthew shouted over the campfire. “You got any more hot water?” “It’s in that giant thermos by the stove,” Joseph said. Matthew went to the stove and brewed a cup of coffee. He also went to the cooler to grab a smore’s kit, a bag of chips, and some almond butter cookies, and brought them back to the campfire. He gave Brock, Elise, and Abby the s’mores kit for them to use and then sat beside his girlfriend, Anna. She was wrapped in her blanket. Anna looked at Matthew’s cup of coffee. “You do know that’s your third cup of the day,” she said to Matthew. “You’re not going to sleep tonight.” “Don’t worry. This one is decaf,” he said. Matthew offered Anna his coffee. Anna took a sip. “I don’t know how you can drink black coffee,” she said. “I need some sugar and milk,” She took a bite of the almond butter cookies. “Great, the cookies are too sweet.” “Try dipping the cookies in the coffee,” Matthew said. “The coffee will make the cookie less sweet.” Anna tried it. “That’s much better. Thanks!” Anna looked at the campfire. Abby is roasting marshmallows on an open fire while Brock plays his guitar, and Elise is watching over Abby. Anna smiled. Matthew looked at Anna. Matthew also smiled. “Do you think this can ever be us?” Anna asked Matthew. “What are you talking about?” “You know, settling down, starting a family, living the life we want to live?” He wrapped his left arm around Anna. “Well, we made it this far,” he replied. “All we can do is pray together.” Anna rested her head on Matthew’s skinny shoulder. She closed her eyes while slowly snacking on her cookies, while Matthew looked up to the stars, slowly having his coffee and his bag of chips. 

FULLY DEVELOPED- Brock playfully riffing on his acoustic guitar while Elise watches over their 6-year-old daughter, Abby roasting marshmallows over the open campfire. The first marshmallow, Abby accidentally set the marshmallow on fire. Elise quickly jumped in and helped Abby scrape off the burning marshmallow from her skewer. The second marshmallow turned out black. Elise removed the burnt marshmallow from the skew again. “Here, sweetie,” Elise said. She helped Abby with the marshmallow the third time. “This time, only cook half the time.” Abby did exactly what her mother said, and it worked! The marshmallow came out lightly brown. “Great job, Abby! Let’s make a smore for dad.” Abby puts a graham cracker on the bottom, then a piece of milk chocolate, a marshmallow, and another cracker on top. “Here, Daddy,” Abby hands Brock a s’more. Brock opens his mouth and Abby feeds him a s’more. He took a big bite. “Thanks, sweetheart,” Brock said with his mouth full. “Tastes delicious.” Abby continues making two more s’mores for herself and Elise. They enjoyed their s’mores and started to gaze up at the stars. It wasn’t long until Abby was feeling sleepy. Elise picked Abby up. “I’m just putting her to bed,” Elise said to Brock. He nodded. Before Abby headed off to sleep, she kissed Brock on his cheek. “Good night, Daddy.” “Good night, baby girl,” Brock replied. “I’ll see you in the morning.” Elise went to their tent and tucked Abby in. She went back to the campfire and sat beside Brock. “So, Elise. Is this everything you ever wanted?” Elise giggled and hugged Brock. “You mean ‘Is this everything WE wanted? ‘” she said. “It has its ups and downs. But I would never change it for the world. 15 years together. From classmates, to friends, to lovers, to lovers forever.” Brock gave Elise her guitar and kissed her on her forehead before making some more s’mores for them and the rest of the group. 

EMBERS- Chole broke up with Dennis just weeks before his camping trip. They knew that this moment would come, but Dennis hoped that this trip would reignite they’re flame. Unfortunately, it was too late. Chole moved on to a different man while Dennis is struggling to move on. During the time near the campfire, he began writing in his journal:

“I remembered when we first met. We fell like the autumn leaves on a cool, September evening. You were the fire that died in my life. Now what remains are embers of our love. You were the other half of me until you moved on to someone who is a better me. Now, the only question I have left for you: Is your life without me all that you’re hoping it would be?”

Dennis snapped his pencil in half with his right hand and ripped the page he had written on his journal with his left hand. He threw his paper and pencil onto the fire and watched it burn into nothing. He slammed his fists onto the cold, hard ground, leaving marks and blisters on his knuckles. 

ASHES- Eric was drinking a beer beside the campfire. He watched Abby made s’mores for the first time and he felt all warm inside. On the contrary, he feels jealous because he never got the chance to experience that feeling with his wife and son before she got into a car accident. It’s been over a month since she passed away. Eric wasn’t depressed or angry. He just accepts it. He accepts that this is the life that he’s living in now. He took a deep breath. He was scrolling on his phone and saw a post he made which later became his funeral speech for Angela. He began to read while looking at her beautiful face on the screen:

“Angela,

I find it hard to understand in my mind what it means to love you after you are dead. But I know, I mean we know, that I can be stubborn and realistic, and I thought that there’s no sense in writing.  But now I know, my beautiful wife, that it is the right thing to do because I can write down my thoughts and discuss with you. But now you’re gone and you’re unable to read this letter. I want to tell you that I love you. I want to love you. I will always love you. I was the stubborn and realistic husband, while you’re the idea woman who helped me keep in check while steering us in the right direction. But what about now? Everything is gone in the blink of an eye. I am alone without you. When you were sick, you worried because you couldn’t give me something that you wanted. When I’m sick I’m scared that I’m not strong enough to protect us and our future son. Even at your worst, you can give me nothing, yet I love you so much, my love. That car accident that took you and our son away from me. It is a testament to even when you’re gone, you still watch over me. You love me. And most importantly, you prayed to God to give me the strength to carry our legacy. You, dead, are more important and beautiful to me than anyone else alive. Last week, I had a dream about walking in the dark. Alone. Then I stumbled upon an empty void. I looked down and I saw nothing. It was just a cool breeze blowing upward. I sense your presence, and I immediately fell in love with you all over again. I know you will assure me that I am foolish and that you want me to live a life that is full of happiness and don’t want to be in my way. I bet you were surprised that I don’t have a girlfriend except you. They all seem like ashes. You were the fire of our lives. And even though you turned into ashes, your heat will forever remain in my heart and in my soul. My darling wife. I do adore you. I love my wife. My wife is dead.”

He looked at his side. He saw Dennis crying by the fire. He went beside him and gave him a side hug. Elise gave them some s’mores to snack on. “Thanks,” Eric said to Elise. Eric looked up in to the dark, night sky. It’s filled with stars. He admires the night sky while comforting Dennis. Brock was still riffing on his guitar while serenating to Elise until she falls sleep. Matthew and Anna fell asleep while Sam and Joseph were still talking into the night.