Into the Woods
(by Stephanie Cravens)
Usually I could hear the sounds of Moore, Oklahoma, the bustling city where we lived, but this time the crackling roar of the campfire was all that could be heard. It was relaxing, although perhaps awkward for those who like to fill the silence with some manner of chatter. For my mother and me, it was a much-needed moment in our rocky relationship—just to see the stars together, no fighting or bickering. We hadn’t had a moment like that in years, hadn’t spent time together without some kind of argument or anger over my life choices.
We used to be so close, but lately it felt like no matter what I did, I wasn’t able to make
her feel proud of me. I had messed up what we had. If I had only listened and paid