CHIHIRO | Billie Eilish

Chapter 28: GraduAte

Nayla's POV

I woke up on the morning of my graduation day with a flutter of excitement in my chest. It was finally here—the day I had been eagerly anticipating for years. Sunlight streamed through the window, casting a warm glow over my room as I rose from my bed and made my way to the closet.

With a sense of purpose, I carefully selected the outfit I had laid out the night before: a simple yet elegant dress in my favorite shade of blue, paired with the heels that I had picked out for the occasion.

As I slipped into my dress and fastened my heels, I couldn't help but smile at my reflection in the mirror. I had come so far since I first arrived in London as an international student, and today marked the culmination of years of hard work and dedication.

With my cap and gown in hand, I made my way downstairs, where the aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air. Billie was already in the kitchen, a bright smile on her face as she handed me a steaming mug.

"Good morning, beautiful," Billie said, pressing a kiss to my cheek. "Are you ready for your big day?"

I grinned, the excitement bubbling up inside me. "More than ready," I replied, taking a sip of my coffee. "I can't believe it's finally here."

As we sat together at the kitchen table, I felt a sense of calm wash over me. With Billie by my side, I knew that no matter what the day held, everything would be perfect. And as we finished our coffee and made our way to the car, I couldn't wait to see what the day had in store.

The campus buzzed with energy as I arrived for the graduation ceremony. The anticipation radiated from every corner, and I couldn't help but feel a mixture of nerves and excitement coursing through me.

As I made my way towards the venue, I caught glimpses of familiar faces—friends and classmates. Each smile and hug filled me with a sense of warmth and camaraderie, reminding me of the countless memories we had shared during our time at university.

The sound of applause and cheering filled the air as the ceremony began, and I took my place among my fellow graduates, heart pounding with anticipation. The speeches were inspiring, filled with words of wisdom and encouragement for the journey ahead.

As I stood before the rector of the university, he took a moment to acknowledge my achievements. "Nayla," he announced, "graduating with honors." With a sense of pride and accomplishment, I made my way onto the stage to accept my diploma.

As I approached the podium, I couldn't help but feel a wave of emotion wash over me. This was the moment I had been working towards for years, and to hear my name called out in front of my peers filled me with an overwhelming sense of pride.

But as I reached out to take my diploma, something caught my eye in the crowd. There, in the front row, I saw Billie, her parents, Finneas, and Claudia, all beaming with joy as they cheered me on. I felt my heart swell with gratitude and disbelief. I had expected Billie to be there, but to see her whole family in attendance was a pleasant surprise.

Tears welled up in my eyes as I made my way off the stage, diploma in hand. I couldn't wait to join them in the audience, to share this moment of triumph with the people who had supported me every step of the way. As I descended the steps, I felt a sense of gratitude wash over me, knowing that I was surrounded by love and encouragement on this special day.

As we embraced outside the venue, still buzzing with the excitement of the day, I couldn't help but feel overwhelmed with gratitude for their unwavering support. "You all came!" I exclaimed, unable to contain my surprise and joy.

"Of course we did," Maggie replied with a warm smile. "Families don't miss out on such important milestones."

Tears welled up in my eyes as I looked around at the familiar faces gathered around me—Billie, her parents, Finneas, Claudia. Each smile and hug filled me with a sense of warmth and camaraderie.