The Matters of Power

Epilogue- The Matters of the Future

3 Years Later, Graduation Day...

It's finally here, the day where the high school chapter of our lives end. Sitting here on cheap folding chairs in the middle of the track field while everyone slowly gets their diplomas was not how I envisioned my Graduation Day to go. It's been a long and difficult four years of high school, not only because of the nightmare that was my freshman year and the whole conspiracy regarding my psychic powers, but also because of just how difficult the classes were even with my increased intelligence because of my powers. After the last person in line got their diplomas, the principal decides to bore us even more by giving a speech on our accomplishments and his hopes regarding our futures outside of the school. A lot has happened ever since my friends rescued me from Mr. Corvanez, even if it meant that him, Guadaro, and Pot died down there. As soon as we got out of the sewers, I had Julieta call the cops to inform them that she found me unconscious in the alleyway where we were and had essentially found a missing person. As much as we wanted to tell the truth about Mr. Corvanez and his schemes involving me, it would've put too much danger on all of us if Quarter and I's supernatural abilities were discovered and it would make Julieta's life a living hell so long as her dad's name was branded like that. In the end, we agreed that the best story to go along with was that I was essentially kidnapped by a human trafficking group who held me captive for days on end while secretly moving me to various places in San Anton, before they suddenly decided I wasn't worth it for some reason and dumped me there. The police couldn't really disprove our story even as the bruises and marks on my body were hard to ignore, and I even had to add along the story that they drugged me with something that knocked me out, which further solidified the story.

All in all, I was relieved to finally be free from that place and could stop worrying my parents this whole time, who wept as soon as they saw me in the station. The principal's speech finally wraps up and we all jump in joy while tossing our graduation caps in the air to finally be free from high school. I saw familiar faces all around me who I've known for these last few years: Zeke, Alicia, Hugo, Fernando, Carl, Payton, Yan, and others that I've gotten along with. Zeke kept his distance as he address me somewhat formally before apologizing for being an asshole in the past, Alicia was more laid-back and of course was her usual self in trying to be a nuisance before her friends got her attention, and Hugo seemed almost depressed to see his 'greatest friend' go our separate ways before his sister whacked him pretty hard in the head and managed to get his act together before congratulating me on my success. Although we've had rough times here and there, we've finally gotten over it and I hope that we'll look back on it with a laugh if we see each other again. My parents were the only ones to greet me in such an intense way by hugging me from both sides and not letting go to the point that I felt like I was almost out of breath. They were proud of me, to say the very least. "Congratulations on graduating, sweetie!" My mom showers me in praises and can hardly contain herself. "You've done it, Marcus. It was tough, but ya held on long enough to graduate. Let's celebrate after this, we'll go wherever you want this summer. Our treat." I can't help but silently cry in their arms as I am truly lucky to have parents like them who supported me this whole time. And all I've done is cause trouble.

They finally decide to let go and continue praising me, but I sense a few people approaching me from behind from the crowds. They suddenly jump at me and grab a hold of me in one massive hug, but I know it's them because of my abilities and I don't act a bit surprised. "Ugh, damn, I really thought we could actually catch him by surprise." "I told ya, Fernando, he would've saw it from a mile away. What chance did we have?" "Carl, it's the thought that counts, right?" I can't help but laugh with them at their poor execution of trying to surprise me. "C'mon, you know me, I'm special that way, of course I would know it was you guys." I still don't plan on telling my parents about my powers even after all this time, so I take extra precautions in my wording. "Anyway, what's the occasion? Don't you have other people to celebrate with other than me?" "No, that ain't it." Yan speaks up, "We wanted to invite you to hang out over by the bleachers. You know, talk things out like the good ol' times." I look at my parents to see what they think, but they give me the gesture of 'don't worry about us, you go have fun'. I quickly thank them before following the others to the bleachers that are starting to fill up with other graduates who seem to have the same idea as us. We manage to grab a space near the bleacher railing and finally take a breather from the graduation ceremony. "Wow... one hell of a day, huh?" I start off the conversation and the others nod in agreement.