The Picture

On the wall there is a picture. It's a picture that describes my life, who I and what I'm like. It's not a picture taken in a fancy studio with perfect hair, but it's the best picture ever.

It's a picture of all my friends and I at Dominick's house, squished onto his couch. Elizabeth and Dan are kissing each other, oblivious that anything is going on. Next to them is Adam and Lauren fake punching each other for the shot. Patrick, Janell and I are perched on the armrests, holding onto each other to keep upright. Dominick and Kaitlin are posing like models at everyones feet making us laugh. Shane is peeking over the back of the sofa like a creep, staring down the camera with huge eyes. Kenny is hugging Ann from behind, while she squeals in surprise. Brian and Jessica are sprawled across everybody, arms out with the biggest smiles on their faces. Everyone's hair is soaked, messed up, and flying everywhere from just having swam in the river. Our clothes are damp and covered in shaving cream. Plates of food and cups of pop are perched precariously on the side tables, threatening to tip over. With all the chaos and confusion, I struggle to find a single imperfection in it all.

There is such diversity throughout us all. I see Mexican and French, smart and dumb, extremely loud and painfully shy. I see redheads and blonds, crooked teeth and tight-lipped smiles, expensive clothes and cheap hand-me-downs. But I know that inside, we are all the same; teengers who love to laugh and pretend they're kids again.

This is the picture that always makes me smile. This is the people I love , who I am, and who I will always want to be. This is what will always describes me; a quick snapshot took a lazy summer afternoon squeezed together with friends on a ratty couch. And I'm more than happy to be known as that.