Cherishing the Ashes It was the fall of 2010. The leaves were crisp, golden, and danced to the ground when the cool breeze swept through, releasing the bond they shared through the summer. It was my sophomore year of high school, and everything seemed to be working in my favor. Life was simply perfect. I lived in a household with a single mom, and visited my Dad every other weekend at my home I grew up in. The house where many memories were made, and the place that shaped me into the woman I am today. One hazy Saturday morning my fantasy life faded before my eyes leaving me with a lesson and a goal I strive to reach daily: to cherish every aspect of my life, and realizing nothing last forever. That very morning my best friend, Presley Murray, and I where devouring our crumply, scrumptious, bacon egg and cheese biscuits. The aroma lurked throughout the house waking my mother up subconsciously giving her a little pip in her step to get the day flowing. While Pres and I chat uproariously, laugh uncontrollably, and make adventurous plans for our day Dad arrives to help Mom move some unwanted furniture. Spiting bits of wet biscuit everywhere I shriek “DADDDDYYYYYYY!” With bugged out eyes his gives a quick response “Hey Jenny Lou.” Busting out with giggles that seem to never end, I finally can catch my breath before choking. Mom enters the kitchen from her bedroom with a suspicious look on her face. She questions “Is everything alright in here?” We start to snicker once more when Dads phone interrupts us with a loud buzzing. Opening the screen door, Dad steps outside to answer his call. The screen door pops back into place, and I see him pacing in a circle with a dazed look upon his face. “My House is on fire” he quivers, as he enters briskly. The words send shivers down my spine, and my heart immediately begins to race. Horrid emotions flutter around me, and with no time to waste Presley and I jump into Moms Pontiac G6 with Dad already a mile ahead of us. A million memories flood my brain on the way to my home, and I pray earnestly that the fire is meager. The fifteen minute ride seems to last an hour. I begin to panic and hysterically squall. From about a mile out from the house the smoke starts to become visible, the black gloom fills the open baby blue sky.