As It Was [Emily Prentiss]

One

June 15th, 1988

"Rita Marie Eloise Rodriguez."

My stomach fell anxiously, like the first drop on steep rollercoaster, and I prayed I wouldn't trip over my feet in the 2-inch heels my mom insisted I wore as I made my way up the stairs and onto the stage.

Principal Elijah Jones, an old man that smelled like cigarette smoke and brandy, handed me my diploma, shaking my hand for a brief moment while we paused for photos. His hand was sweaty, so I casually wiped my hand on the royal blue graduation gown. After the photo op, he sent me off with a kind "congratulations."

I shook the hands of various other school board members before I exited stage left. I let my eyes scan the crowd, looking for a specific face, wondering if maybe she had run late. Instead, I saw my mother and father, who were beaming proudly from the stands, and my two younger sisters waving at me enthusiastically from between them.

After 150 more names were called, Principal Jones stepped up to the podium. I wasn't listening to his 'motivating' (really boring and longwinded) monolog, distracted I noticed by the gross sweat stains turning his gray tux an even darker gray, the buttons threatening to burst with each of his inhales. It was rumored that he'd been a healthy, well decorated military man with an honorable discharge after an injury left him unfit for combat, but when his wife died suddenly in a car crash a few years ago, he turned to binge-eating and brandy to cope.

"Will Garfeild High's class of 1988 please stand up?"

I rose to my feet, only realizing what had been said, when others began to rise around me.

"On behalf of all the staff, I want to say one last time, congratulations to the class of 1988!"

The roar of cheers was deafening, the clapping thunderous as everyone around me threw their graduation caps into the air.

I was still reeling. Why wasn't Emily here? I had just spoken to her the night before and made plans to celebrate the night by sharing a milkshake and getting breakfast for dinner at the local 24-hour diner. I didn't know her parents all that well, but I knew whatever it was had to be big for them to step out on their daughter's graduation.

I tried to smile as I made my way through the crowd toward where my family had been seated. My dad was the first to reach me, pulling me into a crushing bear hug. "Congratulations, Mi hija. We are so proud of you!"

Over his shoulder, my mom smiled at me, awaiting her turn to embrace me then my sister's followed suit.

"Have you heard from Emily?" I asked, looking between my mother and father. "She's supposed to be here."

My mother hesitated, glancing at my dad before she opened her mouth, considering her words carefully. "It's complicated, and I don't know much, but-

"Is she okay?" I asked, gravely concerned.

"Rita, Mrs. Prentiss received a threat, and given the nature, they had to go into protective services for a while."

My dad pulled me into his side, a comforting gesture, but I felt no comfort as I tried to digest what my mother was telling me. Emily had told me that there was always a chance, given her mother's political standing, but she'd also reassured me that it wasn't likely to happen as the threat would have to hold some weight, and most people opposed to her mother were likely to run their mouth.

"They like to write checks their asses can't cash." Emily has said, laughing as she pressed a kiss to the corner of my mouth. "Come hell or high water, you're stuck with me, Rita."

"Protective services?" I shook my head, reeling. "No, we- we had summer plans and then college- she can't just- she can't just go." My legs felt weak, and I stumbled forward, my father catching me by my elbow. "She didn't even wait to say goodbye?"