Page 19 of Summer’s Echo

“Make a wish, Sunshine,” he said softly, his voice almost drowned out by the clapping and cheering around us.

I bit the inside of my cheek, not needing even a second to decide what my wish would be.

My eyes lingered on his, every private feeling reflected at me in his gaze.

I leaned forward slightly and blew out the candle, sending my wish into the heavens.

Maybe someday, the stars would align and grant me the one thing I wanted most.

Echo

That One Summer in 2004

“Echo,” Sadie’s voice rang out as she ran toward me, her little legs moving as fast as they could. I scooped her up effortlessly, and she wrapped her arms around my neck, holding on tight.

Her familiar hug was exactly what I needed.

I was surprised to see my whole family here to pick me up.

My dad was traveling for work, so my mom had braved the nearly two-hour drive alone, much to my father’s dismay.

She stood near the car, her presence calm but commanding as always as my other siblings spilled out of the SUV.

My fifteen-year-old sister Yekemi, nicknamed Kemi, stayed in the car, her expression screaming irritated, like she’d rather be anywhere but here.

My brother, Samir, thirteen and curious about everything, hopped out of the car gawking at the girls who passed by.

Ezla, better known as Eazy, was nine. His face lit up with excitement as he chased Sadie.

Sadie, my little Sadie, only eight, clung to my side as though I’d been gone for years instead of weeks.

“Mum,” I greeted my mother, my voice warm.

“Echo,” she said with that soothing sing-song tone, cupping the curve of my face with both hands before she kissed my cheeks. “You’ve grown,” she teased.

“Mum, it’s only been eight weeks.”

Mum leaned against the car’s passenger door, her attention briefly shifting to fuss at Kemi, who still hadn’t gotten out of the car. I reached around and gave Kemi a light push on the side of her head.

“Echo,” she yelled, her face twisted in mock annoyance.

I laughed. “Good to see you too, sis.”

The Abaras were a loud and rowdy bunch, but I’d missed them more than they knew.

“Samir, help me grab my stuff,” I said, nudging my brother. He followed me, heading toward the lodge, his attention fixed on every girl who passed by.

“Who’s that? And her?” he blurted before I could answer the first inquiry. His questions came rapid-fire as we walked, and I had to thump his ear to get him to calm down.

I hadn’t seen Summer since last night at the closing ceremony, so I decided to stop by her lodge before heading to my room. Although we’d sorta said goodbye already, I didn’t want to leave without seeing her. I knocked on the door to the suite, and Brooke answered.

“Hey, Echo,” she greeted, leaning casually against the doorframe.

“What’s up, Brooke?” I said, peeking over her shoulder, looking for my target.

She waved to Samir, who was lingering shyly behind me. “And who is this cutie?”

“This is my brother Samir,” I answered, patting him on the shoulder.

“Hi, Samir,” Brooke sang.

“Hi,” he coyly mumbled, his face flushing as he looked down at his shoes.

“Is Summer in her room?” I asked, ready to walk in.

Brooke shook her head. “No. She’s gone. Her parents picked her up early. They needed to get back for their family reunion trip.”

Her words hit me harder than expected. I kept my expression neutral, even as disappointment tightened my throat.

“Ah, I see. That’s what’s up,” I said, nodding and forcing a smile. “Well, it was nice meeting you this summer, Brooke. Good luck in your senior year.”

“You, too, Echo.” She extended her arms, and we shared a friendly hug.

I nodded, turning away as Samir and I headed to my lodge. My feet felt heavier, my stride slower as my mind replayed Brooke’s words: She’s gone .

After grabbing my bags, I stalked back to the SUV and loaded the trunk. Kemi was still pouting in the front seat, while Sadie and Eazy were already buckled in the third row, chattering away about a random toy.

“You want to drive?” my mother asked.

Normally, I would kill for the chance to drive, but today, I just wasn’t in the mood. My mind was weighty, crowded with tangled thoughts.

“No, ma’am,” I said, shaking my head. “I’m kinda tired.”

She regarded me with a slow, assessing look, possibly sensing something was off. “Are you okay, son?”

I nodded quickly, not wanting to filter any more questions. “Yeah, Mum. We were up late, so I’m just gonna take a nap.”

Her gaze lingered on me for a moment longer, as if trying to read between the lines.

Finally, she nodded and slid into the driver’s seat.

Instead of fighting Kemi for the front seat like I usually did, I climbed into the middle row next to Samir.

Even he looked a little surprised as I buckled in without a word.

My mother raised a questioning brow at the unusual silence between Kemi and me but didn’t say a word.

The drive was a blur because I slept through most of it.

The familiar clamor of Sadie and Eazy in the back didn’t even register.

I’d grown used to their noise, so it was easy to block out once I slipped on my headphones and let my thoughts wander about Summer.

I should’ve asked Brooke for Summer’s number before I left, but that would’ve seemed too thirsty…

desperate. Maybe I could ask Maxell since they knew some of the same people.

A dull ache settled in stomach. I was going to drive myself crazy.

When we finally pulled into the garage, I blinked awake, stretching as the headlights illuminated our two-story colonial home in the northern suburb of St. Louis.

I’d only been in this house a few weeks before I’d left for camp, but I didn’t expect it to look so different.

My mother’s magical green thumb had been at work while I was gone.

Vibrant flowers lined the front yard, and a new set of patio furniture was neatly arranged below the picture window.

Seasonal decorative touches like a wreath on the door and an entry rug with the letter “A” on it gave the house warmth it didn’t have before.

Stepping into the foyer, the changes were even more noticeable.

The once sterile white walls were painted with warm hues of gray and peppered with family portraits and colorful paintings from Nigeria.

Maybe this place can feel like home . I climbed the steps two at a time, eager to finally crash in my room.

The moment I pushed open the door, the changes my mother had made were perfect.

I eyed the fresh shade of blue paint on the walls, and framed posters of my favorite Chicago sports teams hung perfectly.

New linens covered my queen-sized bed, and the faint scent of fresh laundry filled the air.

To my delight, a sleek new computer was sitting on my desk.

I dropped my bag on the floor and sprawled across the bed, too tired to admire the details further.

I’m sure I would admire the rest of the features later.

Right now, I needed to draw, to lose myself in the lines and sketches, which always seemed to help me clear my head.

I would play around with my new computer later.

Reaching into my backpack, I pulled out the black spiral notebook that was practically bursting with sketches I’d filled it with over the past eight weeks.

Our hideaway was the place I’d sketched the most. Most of my and Summer’s time in our sacred spot was spent wrapped into quiet moments—only the sound of our pencils scratching against paper.

She always sketched with ease, her talent effortless, while I preferred the precision of computer-aided design to bring my ideas to life.

As I flipped through the pages, I let my mind drift between then and now, the moments I’d captured—trees stretching toward the sky, the waves on the lake on a windy day, campers discovering new things, and Summer.

Every angle of her beauty was splattered on these pages.

As I turned another page, a white envelope slipped out and landed softly on the mattress.

Frowning, I picked it up and turned it over.

A single letter “E” was scrawled across the front in neat yet swirly handwriting.

My breathing was sporadic as I ran my thumb over the ink, knowing it was her…

praying it was her. The envelope wasn’t sealed, so I opened the flap and pulled out a neatly folded piece of paper.

Unfolding it, I scanned the words. It was her.

For a second, I wondered how she’d pulled this off, then it hit me.

Last night, she’d insisted that her sneakers needed to go in my backpack while we watched a movie in the amphitheater.

Echo-ho-ho! Ha!

I bet you’re laughing. Anyway…I can’t believe the summer is already over, and I’m back home—well, technically on a bus headed to Orlando for my family reunion! I am already missing the Creative Crew and the crazy fun we had. Thank you again for being an amazing partner in crime.

Honestly, I didn’t expect—or even want—to make new friends my last year at camp, but I did…you. On those crazy days when I thought I would lose my shit, you always made me laugh… and reminded me to breathe. So, thank you for being you and for making this summer one I’ll never forget.

Until we meet again!

Summer a.k.a. Sunshine a.k.a. Sun

P.S. Just in case you want to meet again, my number is 923-0001.

And just like that, she was here again, as if her voice whispered to me through every curve of the letters on the page.

“Yes,” I shouted, pumping a fist in the air like I’d won a prize.