Warmth | ✔️ #wattys2021

32. regeneration

Another week passed for Adeline, even if it felt as if it has been a month. She wasn't doing any better, worse actually. She tried to be happy for Nora, Jim and their baby as they decided for a future together. And she was, especially for her, she saw first hand how much of a toll the surprise took on her but once Jim arrived they talked it over and labeled the situation as serendipity. Yes, they haven't been together for long but they loved each other, they would figure everything out. But that also meant Nora would move out. 

Adeline was sad about that, she couldn't pay for the flat for herself, it would also be a waste of space as her room would be left empty. Adeline also didn't want to live  alone or with a stranger, she would find a place but she knew the time at their Brixton apartment was over. She also managed the first exams and even if they went okay, she kept thinking about the questions and about what else she could've written. It was useless, really.

Getting Adam off of her mind didn't work either as he seemed to be in Cannes. She felt the same amount of shame and sadness she did the week before. Adeline also wondered if this is how it would be from now on. He was a public person, he would show up in tv shows, magazines and on social media once in a while, she couldn't control it. Even if she didn't try to take a look at the pictures she eventually did. She had to dig a little deeper as there seemingly weren't any official pictures. But there was one in which he talked to Rosamund Pike. He wore a dark blue suit his hair was obviously handled by professional and a sly smile covered his mouth. Adam looked good, of course. But the woman on his side sparked a tiny bit of jealousy in her veins until she looked her up and noticed that she was given. She sighed, knowing she was probably driving herself even more crazy than she already was. No ex of hers ever got as missed from her as him.

*

A week later all of her exams were done, which meant she was finally done with uni. The only thing left now was the grand graduation ceremony. Adeline was happy Ruby and Kate would be there too. Three days before, they went out  to have drinks and celebrate and the two of them ended up pissed drunk. 

.She had actually reached something in her life now and it felt good.

The ceremony would start at 2 and as it was almost 1:30 her father drove the three of them to the grand hall of the uni. Traffic was unbelievable and Jack cursed at one or two cars until they arrived. She was very happy about their presence, once in a while she missed them dearly and just now she thought oh so often about moving back to Bristol. What would even keep her here? 

Even if the traffic was though, they arrived at the venue 10 minutes too early and one of her professors chat with her and her parents for a while, it was lovely. It was also a particularly hot day in London, but she enjoyed it. Everyone went in and took a seat. Adeline knew was to be called out somewhere in the middle of the writing section with her surname and the tension killed her. Mental note: don't marry someone with a surname further down in the alphabet. Once her name got called out, she got on the stage, shook some hands and received the paper worth thousands of student loans. She looked out into the crowd and smiled as she saw her parents, her mum even waved. Adeline genuinely hoped she didn't flash anyone during the ceremony while her blue satin dress was long, it had a plunging neckline. And she felt good in it but there was definitely a risk.

After the ceremony, the speeches, the ridiculous ask for more donations for the uni and hugs shared with friends, Adeline and her parents went to a restaurant. It was nice Italian one, the one she always went to with them as they were creatures of habit. Leslie and Jake couldn't help but state over and over again how proud they were of her daughter and it made her plead them to stop. And they gifted her way too much money. "For your new room!" Her mum said and she thanked them. Adeline moved in with George a few days ago. She never really thought they would ever live together but until now it wasn't too bad. As he was a chef, she didn't have to move a finger for food. And while they didn't live in such harmony as her and Nora used to they got along well. Once in a while she would trip over his countless pairs of shoes that were everywhere at all time and curse him. 

George offered her the guest room that was: "...never used, none of you ever get pissed at mine, it's a shame!". It was a bit stark still but she would make it look pretty in time. 

"So what are you going to do now, love? Did you already start searching for a job?" Her dad asked sternly but at the same time stroked her hand.

"I did, applied to some companies but none of them replied." She said sadly and only now understood Nora's former misery.

"Hang on, darling!" Her mum said.

They talked for long time and took a walk at Hyde part and she felt real love enter her body again, it felt like regeneration. Things changed now, and while she wished he was with her all along the change felt good.