Barefoot Cinderella

4. Sweet Nothings

5 years ago...

Like milestones making the path to your destination, life is marked by memories and achievements. Achievements like first birthday, first word, first step, sweet sixteen and middle school.

"Graduation from middle school into junior high marks an important part of the transition into adulthood. While high school graduation celebrates a student's completion of basic education and introduces her into a world of adult decisions and growth, graduation from eighth grade celebrates your child's journey through the middle years of education and prepares them for exploring his or her passions." My teacher, Mrs. Williams, said in her welcoming address to all the graduates and their family and friends to the auspicious event of our Middle School Graduation.

Yes, I was finally graduating middle school. It had been a very depressing few years for me. My mother passed away. My father got married to our nasty housekeeper and my nanny. I gained two sisters, one older and one younger and my father left us, all in the span of three years.

I sat in our school gymnasium along with the rest of the graduating class. That was filled with pictures after pictures and a video montage of our time here. The trips we took, the fun we had, the memories we made. I was there in some of them too, in random pictures, here and there.

It was an anxiety filled moment for me. On one hand I was excited about graduating from this place and embarking on a new adventure with my best friends, Nicole and Drew. On the other hand I was dreading the moment I walked up on that stage.

Craning my neck to the left, I tried to look over the graduating class to see if my stepmother was here yet. This morning when Aunt Claire came to pick me up she told her that she would be here, along with Rhea and Bea.

The number of graduates who were supposed to go up before me was dwindling down quickly. They were about to announce my name and instead of being excited about it, here I was, wondering where my family was. Finally, when my name was called and I had no choice but to follow the girl on my right towards the stage.

I remember standing on the stage of our school auditorium, shaking the hands with the principal. I remember looking towards the bleachers, where the families of the graduates were seated. Every child that got off the stage immediately rushed off towards his or her parents, who were standing to the side.

Seeing them like that, I felt an ache take root in my heart. I would never get to do that again. I'd never get to jump off of this stage and be enveloped in the loving embrace of my father and mother who'd be exceptionally proud of me for reaching another milestone in my life. I hope they all knew how lucky they were.

Resigning myself to the hand that the fates had dealt for me I walked off the stage, staring at my shoes the whole time.

There was no bounce in my step any longer, like there was earlier. Moments like these mean nothing if you don't have somebody to share it with. As soon as I walked away from the stage, I hear my name being called out.

"Ariel sweetie look up, let me take a picture of you." It was Aunt Claire. I smiled a huge smile and she took a picture.

"Now there's my girl!" I was pulled into a warm hug as soon as I reached her. She was crying softly, her eyes shining with pride.

"Isabelle would have been so proud of you sweetie." She smiled at me reassuringly. Why don't we all go out and celebrate, after all it is not every day that our little Elle graduates sixth grade!"