Never Too Late

Chapter Thirty Eight

"I'm so proud of you two!" Hanna declared as she took photos of her sons in their graduation attire. The graduation ceremony had just concluded, but scores of students crowded the sports field where it was held, along with their families, which blanketed the area with sounds of joy.

The twins' whole family was there, and they cheered them on throughout the entire ceremony and even now. Johan felt surreal receiving all this attention and praise. He had to fight to maintain his nonchalant demeanor. On the other hand, Luke was on cloud nine; he couldn't stop laughing and chatting with his friends as he made his way around the venue.

Johan stood by his parents, still flustered by everything, but a warmth rose in his chest. He hadn't been initially too excited about graduation, but his mom bought him a new suit and made him get a haircut, which surprisingly fit him really well. He was also now wearing glasses prescribed by his doctor to help his right eye adjust so he almost felt like a new person.

"Johan, your speech was great!" Rachel told her brother with the broadest smile on her face. "I can't believe you made Valedictorian."

"I was surprised they chose me. I only started school in February." Johan murmured honestly.

"That's because of all your achievements since being up here! Everyone's so proud of you!" Rachel reminded him, and Johan felt so overwhelmed with happiness that he almost teared up.

Removing his glasses, he wiped his eyes before looking up and seeing his brother doubling back to him with Ericka in tow. Luke was holding her hand, and he looked totally ecstatic as he rejoined them. Ericka wore a white dress with gentle makeup that made her seem ethereal. He had spoken to her occasionally since his eye appointment but he maintained his distance from her. Luke had been spending even more time with her, and she even went to prom with him.

"Hey Johan, everyone is going out to Shelly's to celebrate and hang out, are you coming?" Luke asked happily.

"No, I'm sorry. You'll have to go without me." Johan said before casting a warm approving glance at him and Ericka. He was happy they were finally together, and with college ahead of him, he needed to start focusing on different things. "I have somewhere to be."

"Damn, well remember we're going out for graduation dinner tonight, so don't be late," Luke reminded him, and Johan nodded before leaving.

"Luke, where is your brother going?" His dad asked after walking over.

"I don't know, he's probably going to hang out with his girlfriend I guess." Luke shrugged.

"Johan has a girlfriend?" Ericka exclaimed in surprise and Luke nodded.

"She's a real mystery but Johan's really into her," Luke said before cupping Ericka's hands. "Don't worry about him, he's good. We should get going to Shelly's."

"Yeah, we should..." Ericka murmured as she watched Johan's back retreating through the crowd in the distance.

***
"Hey, Liz, are you home?" Johan asked after knocking for the third time on the wooden door in front of him. After getting no response he sighed before pulling out his phone and ringing her number. As he patiently waited, he watched as the sunlight faded into the night and remembered that he needed to meet up with his family later for graduation dinner. Sighing again, he rang her phone once more but this time he realized that it was ringing from behind the door.

"Liz, I know you're there," he grumbled annoyed, and waited.

"I don't feel well, can you come by tomorrow?" She finally answered.

"Are you okay?" He asked more softly this time but she didn't respond. After what felt like an eternity Liz finally unlocked the door and let him in. Her normally rosy face was pale and tired, and her eyes spoke of sadness, her posture of defeat. "What happened?"