The fireworks filled the skies like stars. The sound as well, like a thousand mini explosions going off at once. But fireworks aren't just made of beauty, they are made of power, fear, destruction. I was always afraid of them. But it all changed on that fateful day.

Every year during winter break my family goes to Florida to see my grandparents.

Their condo is right on the beach and everything in town is within walking distance. The sandy shores stretch as far as the eye can see, the rumbling ocean along with it. You can see the deep blue seas from miles away, always persistent, splishing and splashing as if trying to say something.

Since my family visits Florida during winter break, that means we are there for New Year's Eve. Every year in Florida, people light off amazing firework shows that you can see from miles away. But I have always been scared of the darkness on the beach and of getting too close to the fireworks.

Because of these fears, we always watch from inside.

But this year my dad asked,

"Should we get our own fireworks?" Gulp.

I had to think about it. Getting our own fireworks meant being extremely close to them when the explosion went off, and it meant being out in the darkness. "When do I have to make the decision?"

"By tomorrow morning." My dad responded.

That wasn't much time, since I was going to bed an hour later. If I do this, it will be one of the scariest experiences of my life, I thought.

But if you don't, think of what you could be missing, I started arguing with myself.

Couldn't I just do it next year if I want?

Yes, but you don't know what might happen, and what if we don't come back here again?

Fine

By then it was time for me to go to sleep, so i would tell my dad what i had decided in the morning

When I woke up, my fear was still present, but I pushed away the feelings, thinking of my conversation with myself the night before.

"Dad!" I called, "I'll do it," and so we went.

From the outside, the store didn't look like much. It just looked like any regular store, except for the large sign stating that the fireworks brand was TNT. Everything changed when we entered. Rows upon rows of multi-colored boxes filled with fireworks. It was an eruption of color, and It could be one as well, if the destructive element of fire was added. The fear rushed back.

We shouldn't have come. Nothing good comes from fiery thunder. What if a fire breaks out in the room? Or in the car on the way back? What then?

Then it was nice while it lasted. I countered fearful thoughts.

My dad and I started by getting smaller, non-aerial fireworks like the Ground Bloom, which is a spinning ball of flame, the Sparkler which was like controlling fire with your own hands, and the smoke bombs, which spurted out fumes of violet, cyan, and turquoise smoke.

Then we hit the aerial part of the store. Colors danced off the walls. It was as if a star had exploded in that exact spot. It was so beautiful. I wanted to buy every one; all these years I had no idea what I had been missing. But these were just the boxes. The boxes still contained deadly chemicals, creatures even, the destructive power of hundreds of bombs all in that one room.

Beauty can be dangerous.

We picked out a small pack and headed to the cashier. The cashier asked, "Since you have spent 50 dollars, you can now buy an item that's usually for S50 for $25." Seeing the terrified look on my face, my dad thankfully said no. We put the fireworks in a bag, brought them into the car, and headed back to the apartment complex.

By the time we got home, it was already getting dark, so we headed outside bringing the fireworks with us.

The first ones we used were the sparklers, because we were saving the biggest for last.

We wrote our names with the smoke and fire, all the while watching the changing colors of the bright flame. Next were the ground blooms, which spun as if it was their last day on the planet

(which it was) all the while sprouting colorful blasts of flame. Third, we lit the smoke bombs which were the best so far since they were the most colorful.

Finally, at long last, it was time for the aerials. We opened the box. There were three different colors, red, green, and blue. Since blue was my favorite color at the time, I wanted to do that one first. "Are you ready?" My dad asked.

Last chance before you go boom.

I think I'll risk it.

If anything happens, you won't be able to risk anything ever again.

Where's the fun in just sitting there? If I never take risks, I'll never learn anything, and I'll never try something new. I don't care what the possibilities are, I'm going to do this.

If you say so.

"Yes dad."

I walked back as my dad lit the fuse. Every firework I had ever seen led up to this moment. My dad ran back. Boom. The rocket flew up hundreds of feet, and then everything happened. The night turned to day, black of the night sky to blue of a clear morning. And the sound. It was the most beautiful thing I had heard. It was the sound of a fear dissolving.

My dad and I finished the rest of the fireworks. Even though I was no longer scared, I still preferred not to light the fireworks, but I still watched in awe. The sky was everything but dark. The night sky normally empty of stars due to light pollution was now the complete opposite, not a spot in the sky showed any darkness.

Since we had finished, my dad and I started to walk down the beach, along the rolling seas, towards other firework shows. We continued along, bathed in a beautiful light of red, green, blue, and glittering gold. We came across a group of younger kids (about 6-8 years old) with their parents, who were setting off smaller fireworks, like sparklers and groundblooms. These kids had not a fear in the world. The only thing these fireworks represented to them was happiness. Which was what they represented to me now.

It was getting late (around 11:00 or so) so my dad and I started heading back. By the time we got back it was 11:30, so we rushed to the TV to turn on the Times Square ball drop in NY. 10, 9, 8. Fireworks bloomed like flowers. 7,6, 5,4. Everyone held their breath. 3.2.1. The last of the fireworks exploded, as bright as a supernova, strong enough to melt away the biggest fears, powerful enough to create confidence, and beautiful enough to put a perfect blue sky to shame.

I learned a lot that night.  I learned how to overcome fear, how fears hold me back and I learned that light represents birth.  Rebirth.  A simple word, that means so much more. Rebirth means freedom; it means peace.  Inner peace.

I was reborn that night; I was freed from the strain of fear. Breaking free, I went on a great journey that night.  Defeating my fear led me to a whole new world. It opened up so many possibilities. I faced one of the greatest challenges of my life, and I taught myself that I can do things even when I’m afraid.

       Now I know what the persistent ocean was telling me. There are infinite ways to end a fear. You just have to keep trying.