First Breath - 19

There was the first breath of air as I stepped from the warm comfort of the apartment. Frost glittered on the grass and the rails but I didn't notice these small things. I cared for myself first and the softly glowing clouds emanating from my mouth enchanted and bewitched me. I drew great deep breaths of the cold air and released it, pushing every particle out of my lungs and body, watching the steamy air pour out from my mouth, solidify, and fade away.

The tip of my nose felt so cold and so fresh, just like the edges of my ears where a light tingly pain gave me my first notice of the nerves there. I pranced away from the door, smoke still flowing freely from my open lips. I watched my mother step out of the room, closing the door behind her. Her short her shook as she stepped down from the doorway. She turned around and a twinkle shone bright and clear in her eyes. They were youthful eyes, all aglow with life and happiness.

We linked arms and half-walked, half-skipped to the steps. Making our way carefully down, I then looked up. The sky was blue, blue, blue. It looked bluer than I'd ever seen it and the clouds were white and happy. The tar on the road looked different too. It was a deeper black that was somehow the epitome of sparkling happiness. The yellow-gray concrete of the pavement wrapped around patches of emerald-green grass and the contrast caught my eye, holding my attention. In each patch of such grass, there was a single tree.

This is my memory and I promise you that it's as real as I could make it.