One step at a time

41

Melissa Newman

It was time for everyone to leave and be with their own family's, It was graduation tomorrow and I was happy for them. I will continue to be happy for them. Everyone should be getting their letters soon. Everyone was going to leave me for college and that was fine everyone needs to live their lives I don't want them to be like me. Stuck with no place to go. I sat at the table with my family and sighed. "I don't think I will make it to your graduation tomorrow" I stated sadly I wanted to go I really did. "Why?" Lee asked I knew this meant a lot to him and I know I was letting him down. "My body aches and it feels heavy" I frowned. "It's not from my treatments it's from exhaustion I've pushed myself too far I've been trying to keep up with you a lot I just didn't realize the toll it was doing on my body" I understand" Was the last thing I heard from Lee that night. He was upset that was clear. I had let him down once again.

The next morning when I woke up everyone had gone out for breakfast before Lee's graduation. I was about to do something that could very well be the end of me but I had to do something. Graduation was going to start in 20 minutes if I was to hurry I would make it there just before it started. My body was sore but I promised Lee I would be there. I cant break another promise. I can't afford to. I slowly made my way upstairs being careful not to trip. I changed as quickly as I could grabbed my keys and left. I made it just in time they were about to start. I smiled at my parents before sitting down. "Hunny I thought you couldn't make it I thought you were sore" I nodded my head. "I am" I stood up and scurried along the side of the wall making sure Lee wouldn't see me. I wasn't just here for Lee. Two weeks ago I got a call asking if I was strong enough to give a speech and I was I had something to lean on I would be fine. I never told anyone this because It was going to be a secret.

"Now we have a special guest who is going to give you all a special talk, She is one of the best people this town has ever produced I will let her introduce herself" I smiled at him I had reached behind the curtain so I was covered. He handed me the microphone before I stepped out. I cleared my voice before speaking. "hello" and then I stepped out. "Thanks for the kind words but its not true" I smiled and looked out to the students who would be going to do bigger and better things. "You guys did it, You completed high school give yourselves a clap" I looked at Lee an he was crying. "Come on Lee did you really think I would never show you know me better then that" I lost my footing for a second there and almost fell but thankfully the teacher next to me caught me. My friends and family stood up ready to come running. "Oh sit down I'm not finish" I smiled as they all sat down. "Truth be told technically I shouldn't be up here but what is life if your not taking risk's your all going to do bigger and better things then I would ever be able to do and I am thankful as a teenager I have been forced to face the harsh reality of life thankfully you guys haven't experienced it yet go out live your life, Make mistakes because that is what life is all about, Get drunk, get stoned, get arrested because you cant go your whole life without doing one stupid thing be free and don't let anyone hold you back, Don't let anyone control you, Don't let people put you down because if you do your not living your life your living theirs, In life you will get hurt its a part of the cycle but overcome it this is all I'm going to say because I have a funny feeling that I'm going to" Everything went black.