Graduation Goodbyes

Graduation day. It was the day you had both looked forward to, and dreaded, all year long. Twelve long years of school had been leading up to this moment. It had been raining all week, but mother nature had smiled upon this day. The sky was clear and blue, the sun was shining brightly, and it honestly looked like the most perfect day for an outside graduation ceremony. The school had decided to host the ceremony on the football field this year, which was just fine for you. You adored being outside more than anything else, as one could tell just by your lightly-tanned skin. You smiled as you sat on the edge of the school’s fountain, talking with your friends. Your cap was situated perfectly on top of your head, your neatly styled hair smoothed to perfection underneath it. You were pretty, no one could deny that, but you weren’t conceited. Your parents had taught you to take pride in your looks, but you never thought of yourself as being prettier than anyone else. Your auburn hair reached the middle of your back, your blue eyes could rival the clearest sky, and your lightly-tanned skin spoke of summer swimming competitions, volleyball matches, and surfing. That’s just what you enjoyed doing. Living on the beach, you’d always been drawn to the surf and sand, you could never stand being trapped inside all day long. 

As you talked with your friends, waiting for the ceremony to start, you couldn’t help but think back over the last twelve years of your life. School had never really been a challenge and you had always made friends rather easily...but there was one boy you’d felt drawn to more than anyone else. You’d first met him in fifth grade, when he moved to town and joined your class. You’d become friends with him easily, but there was something different about him. His dark hair had reminded you of the night sky, his eyes were like dark emeralds, and his skin was almost as light as the sandy shore you adored. As you two grew closer, you felt an unfamiliar feeling blooming within you, something you’d never felt before. Finally, in your first year of high school, you realized that you had feelings for him. You loved him and wanted to be with him, but you’d never been able to tell him just how you felt. Parents, teachers, friends...something always seemed to get in the way. Today was your last chance to tell him, your last chance to get your first kiss. ‘Just do it,’ you told yourself mentally, ‘you’re going to regret it if you don’t.’ You glanced down the hall and spotted him talking with one of his friends. Over the years since he’d moved here, his skin had become a lot more tanned and toned. He’d taken up volleyball, surfing, and track. He’d also played baseball and basketball for a couple years before trading up to track full time. His hair was now down to his shoulders, but his eyes were the same dark jade. You thought about how nice he was to all the other students, how he’d helped even those that didn’t deserve it; about how he’d always shown kindness and compassion to everyone. You remembered the day he’d rescued abandoned kittens out of a drainage ditch and nursed them back to health until it came time to find them forever homes. Then your thoughts turned to the day he’d found you being bullied on the street after school. While you had an athletic build and could hold your own, you’d never really been much of a fighter, even with your after-school boxing classes. He’d stepped in and you remembered how he’d fought with all three bullies, holding his own against them. You remembered them running away and how he’d turned to you after they were gone. You thought about how dark his eyes had become and how gentle his touch was as he wiped your tears away and asked if you were alright. He’d insisted on walking you home every day for a month after that, to make sure you were never bothered again...that was the only time you had ever seen his darker side. 

“You’re staring again,” a soft giggle sounded in your ear, making you jump. You turned to see your friends all laughing and watching you. Your felt your cheeks become red and you let out a nervous chuckle before quickly apologizing to them. “Just go talk to him already,” one of your gal pals said softly as she nudged you off the fountain wall with a knowing smile. Yes, your friends knew about your crush and had often tried to set you two up, but things had never worked out. Before you could even take a step towards him, the announcement was made for the students to begin lining up. You knew from rehearsal that you would be in a different line than him, which meant you wouldn’t get a chance to talk to him until after the ceremony. You sighed as you went to your line and waited for the music to start. Each line made its way out to the football field, waited for the music to end, then took their seats. Once the last student had sat down, the principal began his speech, followed by some of the teachers. One by one, the students were called up, walked across a make-shift platform, got their diploma, shook hands, paused for pictures, and returned to their seats. After the last student had sat back down, the principal performed his final speech and signaled the students with his final words of “Congratulations graduates”. Caps were flung into the air with a chorus of cheers and families flooded the field to find their graduates. Friends hugged one another with promises to stay in contact and fireworks began lighting up the night sky. ‘Just do it, this is your last chance,’ you thought to yourself before scanning the crowd while your parents talked with your friends. 

You spotted him walking across the field by himself, heading towards the closed concession stand that was only used during sporting events. You handed your cap and diploma to your mom and told them all you’d be right back before taking off towards the concession stand. As you rounded the corner and faced the back of the building, you spotted him leaning against the wall as if he’d been waiting for you. As you took a step closer, his green eyes locked onto your blue and a gentle smile spread across his lips. ‘Just do it,’ you heard once more in your mind as you took another step closer. “Justin,” you started, but stopped as his hand took your own and pulled you closer to him. You felt his arm slide around your back and soon felt his lips brushing your own as your heart rate increased. You returned the kiss before leaning back to look at him, a smile now crossing your lips and his. “I love you” he whispered softly as he placed a light kiss on your cheek and you smiled again. “I love you too,” you whispered back, “but this ends here.” You stepped back out of his arms and looked at him, your hands folding in front of you. He was leaving for New York for college in the morning, and come fall you would be heading to California for school. There was also the fact that his family hated yours. As much as you wanted to be with him, you knew it was never going to happen. He seemed to understand and gave you another light kiss before he turned and walked towards his motorcycle. He pulled his helmet on and started the bike before looking at you once more. “I’ll write,” he said before speeding out of the parking lot and down the road. You felt a tear fall as you watched his tail lights fade into the night, your heart breaking at the sight. Once you could no longer see his lights you turned and finally made your way back towards your waiting friends and family, your last words floating on the breeze, heard only by the gentle night wind. “No, you won’t.”