Independence Day

The two friends, Nate and Jack lounged in the truckbed of the orange 2002 Ford pickup. The sun was beginning to dip below the horizon, painting the sky similar colors to the the truck. Jack always hated the paint job of his best friend's truck but was too nice to say so.

They weren't just friends they were brothers not by blood but by bond. They couldn't be more different. Nate was tall athletic, strong dark haired and a 24 year old atheist. Jack was short pudgy, dirty blond, and an 18 year old Christian who was struggling with his Faith among the other issues a person faces at that crux between adulthood and teenager.

No of that mattered right now. It never had-- not for these two. They'd driven out to this venue for a specific purpose. It was the Fourth of July; they weren't just celebrating the Nation's independence but Jack's as well.

He'd taken the bold step to leave his toxic home environment and strike out on his own. "Why wait for a college to answer you? Launch now." That's what Nate had told him.

The duo didn't know this would be the last time they would spend together for years to come. They stayed in touch long distance but life's seas sent them drifting different directions. That didn't matter though not now as the black sky burst into multi colored explosions of patriotic jubilee because it was Independence Day!