Forever & Always?

Chapter Twenty-Nine

      I stared in the mirror for a long while. I lowered my eyes, allowing myself to see first, my gown and then the cap resting in my hands. Today was the day. My future began this day. My future was starting and I didn't even know who I was. I had always dreamed about my future when I was little. I used to be asked what I wanted to be when I grew up and I always responded with "a mom" and now, now I did not even have a mom. What would happen if I went to Stanford, leaving Daniel, and never love again? What if something as simple as a mom, I could never be? Tears filled my eyes as I looked back up at myself. I shook myself off and put my cap on. I was going to go to Stanford. I was going to leave Daniel and I was going to fall in love with someone else. That person would show me why it never worked out with Daniel and we would have a family. My children would grow up with only one grandma, but two grandpa's that would love them more than two grandmother's ever could. My life would be perfect with just a little persistance.

         A knock on my bedroom door brought me out of my daze. I looked to my doorway to see Alex standing there, smiling at me. I walked up to him and gave him a hug. I let out a sigh and he squeezed me tight.

"You ready to leave it all behind?" He asked.

"I'm ready." He rested his head on mine. He let out a sigh before putting his forehead to the top of my head.

"We made it Marie," he whispered, his voice shaky. He let out another soft sigh and I felt a tear drip to my hair. I turned my head so that it rested sideways on his chest.

"We did, didn't we? A couple bumps in the road, but nothing we couldn't handle," I said, holding back many tears.

"Thank you. Thank you for the memories." He paused. He lifted his head up and looked to me. I lifted my head off his chest.

"I love you, sis."

"I love you, bro," I said, a tear sliding down my cheek.

"Let's go start something new," he smiled, slinging his arm over my shoulder. This was it. This was it and I was ready.

                                    ***

           "Alex Abaranth." Tears filled my eyes and a smile smeared across my face as my best friend's name was called. Alex walked up to the stage, his smile bigger than ever before. Alex was going to go far in life. I was excited for him.

          The names went on. I calmed myself down once Alex's name was called. Only a handful of tears slipped from my eyes.

"Daniel Briskey." Tears. I covered my mouth. My eyes remained squinted open. Tears flooded from my eyes. I chuckled before crying some more. I was happy for him. However, I was sad for myself. Cam stood up, pulling me up with him. We clapped loudly. I kept standing, watching my love walk off stage. I looked to Cam who was already sitting. He looked to me, his smile large. I sat down, smiling back.

"Cam Bullun."

"Whoooooo!!!!!" I cheered. Daniel passed me, grabbing my thigh gently. He sat down two seats down from me. I looked to him. I started crying and laughing at the same time. He grabbed both my hands and kissed them tears forming in his eyes, as well.

"Marie Caneapa." My smile faded. I stared into Daniel's eyes as if I did not know what was happening.

"Daniel," I whispered. He looked to me confused.