Two girls stand side by side Katie and Ashley staring into each other's eyes. Their features are similar brown hair, brown eyes. They are the same age sixteen. They share the same interests guys, clothes, music, and religion among other things. These girls are as alike as any two teenage girls could be; yet, something is different. One thing they fail to share happiness.

At the moment, these two girls stand on the crossroads in life. They have their own feelings and cares. They both long for happiness, but only one of them has it.
Katie's eyes shine the brightest, her heart the lightest, her smile the widest. She holds three keys in her hand. Each key unlocks a part of her life: somewhere to go, something to do, and someone to love. Her keys are warm from handling and worn from using. Her face glows with true happiness.

Ashley, her head turned downward and her dark eyes sad, also holds three keys. You may think these keys are the keys to nowhere, nothing, and nobody; but surprisingly, they are the same keys Katie holds. But Ashley's keys are cold and shiny from not being used.

What has Katie done that Ashley has not? She has used her keys to unlock the parts of her life which bring true happiness.

Katie first opened the door to "somewhere to go". When she wanted to be alone she climbed the tall, metal ladder to the roof of her house to watch the sun go down. A passion for life and learning brought her to all the places that sparked her memories and imagination. She had a home of her own, not to mention the homes of her closest friends. She went to church to pray and worship her creator. She had good places to go, which made her happy.

When Katie unlocked the door to "something to do", she found everything she was passionate about. A good novel on a rainy day made the sun shine. Turning up the radio and singing at the top of her lungs took away her stress. Exercising everyday made her strong, healthy, fit, and active. Any small hint of depression melted like ice away in her swimming pool. Her church youth group organized fun and exciting activities in which she was involved in regularly. She had good things to do, which made her happy.

The most important door of all to unlock is "someone to love". Although it was the most challenging, Katie opened that door too. Her family was there from the day of her birth. Her mother gave her birth, and later on, gave her wings. Her friends encouraged her in the bad times as well as the good. Beloved childhood pets, the first kiss from her boyfriend, the smile shared between her and her teacher, her father's hug through her first broken heart the memories that bonded her loved ones to herself. The God she worships and holds faith in gave her lifetwice. She had good people to love, which made her happy.

And what of Ashley? All she had to do was use her keys to open the doors in her life and she could have been happy too. Is it too late for her?

Have you used your keys, or, like Ashley, are you lost and alone? Happiness awaits you beyond the doors in your life, but it's your choice if you wish to unlock them. It's never too late to be a Katie. No matter how old you are or what road you have taken, you can find your somewhere to go, something to do, and someone to love. That is where you will find happiness.

Sometimes I think of Ashley and wonder if she ever figured it out.

Learn more about this author, Rachel Amburgey.
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