"Alright, Isaac! You’re all done! Would you like to pick out a sticker for being so brave today?” Cece said excitedly. When Cece got the chance to work at a pediatrics office, she jumped at it. Yes, she loved the rush and excitement of the emergency room, but at the same time, she missed having a bit more free time. Isaac gasped, “Really?! Oh, uh, can I, uh, have the, uh, Spider-Man one?” Cece handed him two Spider-Man stickers, and he flashed her a toothless grin before happily running off with his mom.

Cece began gathering her things, ready for a much-needed break. She looked forward to the weekend—a four-day camping trip in the mountains with her best friends. For the past few years, she’d brushed off celebrating her birthday, usually working through it in the ER and tending to fireworks injuries from Fourth of July. One year, she even treated a girl who’d accidentally shot herself in the stomach with a Roman candle. Incidents like that made her wonder: how were some people managing daily life if they couldn’t even follow simple safety directions?

As her workday came to a close, Cece swapped her contacts for glasses and let her messy brown hair out of a bun. Just then, Nadia, a coworker, walked in and grinned. “So, tell me all the details!” Cece rolled her eyes, grimacing at the memory of her date. The guy had been on the shorter side and oddly cryptic, speaking only in riddles. With a sigh, she explained, “My mom set me up with a friend's son. Let’s just say there won’t be a second date. He told me about a growth he has under his armpit the moment he realized I was a nurse—and, yes, he spoke in riddles. My mom is officially banned from matchmaking.” Nadia shook her head, laughing as she left the room.

Cece wasn’t really looking for a relationship, but it seemed like everyone around her was trying to set her up. In truth, she led a fairly simple life. She often hung out with friends, or, when not with them, she’d be having dinner with her parents and playing with their dog, her “little sister.” She once had a boyfriend, even got as far as meeting each other’s parents, but after that introduction, he suddenly ended things. She still wondered why, but pushed it to the back of her mind. This weekend was about celebrating her birthday and having fun, which meant she needed to hurry home or risk missing her ride.

First, though, Cece stopped at her father’s garden shop. His garden was his pride and joy. She had vivid memories of running around the shop as a child, careful not to trample the delicate flowers. Over the years, her father had won several awards for his work. He’d taught both her and Evan, her older brother, everything he knew—what soil to use, which plants make good companions, and even the history and medicinal uses of certain plants. He had called her that morning to ask her to stop by before her trip, and she had a feeling he wanted to equip her with some of his gear for the weekend.

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When she arrived, she saw him helping a customer, scratching his slightly grown-out beard speckled with gray. He looked up, smiled, and gave her a small wave. Once he finished with the customer, he approached her with a serious look. “I have some gear for you to take,” he said, “stuff I use to keep warm when I go hunting. Plus, a special bear spray I made with plants; just spray it around the campsite, and it’ll keep the bears away.”

He loaded her little red car with the gear, then pulled out a small silver necklace with a locket engraved with a “C” and a tiny vial containing a plant she couldn’t quite identify. As he fastened it around her neck, he said, “Be careful! Try not to do anything too stupid.” Cece laughed, promising, “I will! Anyway, you should probably worry more about Evan, especially with Chase and Beau coming along.”

“Oh, don’t remind me! Do you remember when Chase and Beau convinced Evan he could fly? That was quite the ER trip,” he laughed. Cece had grown up watching her brother and his friends get into endless mischief, whether scamming the neighborhood kids or building treehouses out of scrap wood.

It was through her brother that she’d met her best friend, Carly. She still remembered the day they became friends. Cece was seven, and her family had just moved to the area. She was shy and didn’t have many friends, while Evan had quickly bonded with Chase and Beau. Knowing Chase had a sister Cece’s age, Evan brought her along one day, hoping they’d get along.

When they arrived, a little blonde girl with pigtails was waiting outside, smiling. She walked right up to Cece and said cheerfully, “You must be Cece! I’m Chase’s little sister. Want to go ride bikes and make soup by the river?” The girls instantly hit it off, spending the whole afternoon outdoors, covered in mud by the time they returned to the house. Carly’s mom, Lucy, offered to let Cece stay the night, and the two girls were inseparable from that day on.

After saying goodbye to her dad with a big hug, Cece hurried home to catch her ride with Evan and Carly. As she opened the door, she was greeted by her pitbull, Rufus, who jumped up, trying to lick her face. She’d adopted Rufus a year ago, charmed by his personality when she saw him bossing around his littermates. “Are you ready to go camping, boy?” she asked, scratching him behind the ears. Rufus spun in circles, grabbing his leash in excitement.

As Cece finished packing, there was a knock on the door, followed by a familiar sing-song voice. “Cece! I’m here!” Carly gave her a big hug as she entered. “Are you ready to party?” Evan asked, standing behind her. Rufus whined at him until he bent down for a belly rub. After a few minutes of chatting, Cece said, “Alright, let’s get going before it gets too dark.” As they loaded up Evan’s truck, he added, “Oh, by the way, Beau’s truck broke down, so he’ll be riding with us.” Cece’s eyes widened slightly. “Oh, cool. I haven’t seen him since… the wedding.” She knew exactly why she hadn’t seen him since then. It was her fault, in a way.