Aaliyah flopped on her bed, fiddling with her phone cord while Jada‘s wide grin lit up the screen.

14 years old, already stuck in loops of war – thoughts sprinting forward, usually straight into worst case scenarios. Anxiety constantly trailed behind her in worry.

"We need a Sunday fun day!" Jada yelled over the phone.

Jada had been Aaliyah’s best friend since birth. She was loud, full of energy, but never scared of much. On the flip side, Aaliyah felt sick just imagining roller coasters.

Aaliyah pushed out a half-smile. "Sure," she said - only it came off quieter than she meant.

Without skipping a beat, Jada added Aaron - Aaliyah's bold sixteen-year-old cousin - alongside Desmin, his lively, fun-loving best friend. 

They cheered one another on regarding the adventures to come, but Aaliyah drifted further into her head, unsure how she'd make it through this gut wrenching experience.

The next day, sunshine poured into Aaliyah’s home while giggles bounced off the walls. Aaron playfully shoved Desmin onto the sofa, whereas Jada perched on Aaliyah’s bed, legs crossed, her bangles clinking mid-chat about the attractions.

As they walked to her mother’s grey sedan, Aaliyah felt sick inside. When they got in the car, a soft evening breeze touched her skin. 

    Everyone was chatting loud, excited about what's coming up - while Aaliyah just watched outside, picturing how it'd feel to hang motionless at the peak of a tall ride. Her hands started sweating.

As they got to Knott’s Berry Farm, everything burst into loud sounds and bright shades. Shouts bounced around the area, blending with heavy beats plus the sugary scent of fried dough. 

Huge attractions loomed overhead, like a giant in a storybook. Aaron moved ahead without hesitation while Desmin teased him from the back.

Aaliyah laughed in short bursts, yet the huge white frame of Supreme Scream loomed nearer each time they moved.

Aaliyah looked where he was staring. That tall thing just kept climbing, like it wanted to grab daylight itself. Up went a cart - hiss, bang - with shouts falling loose behind it. She felt shaky suddenly, while dark crept over her shoes from above.

At noon, Aaron looked up. "That's it," he told her.