My Hockey Boy

Chapter 13

Haley's POV

"Are you sure you're going to be alright?" Charlie asked after I pulled my jacket on.

"Yeah. Since I slept here over night, I should really get home. Thank you again. For everything."

He leaned down, his hands cupping my cheeks as he placed a kiss to my lips.

"I'll see you at graduation." He smiled.

"Yeah." I grinned, waving to him before climbing into my car and driving off in the direction of my house.

*******

I laid flat on my bed, running my fingers over old pictures. They were all of special memories, each holding some type of value.

The next I picked up was of my brother, me, and my dad. A small tear brimmed in my eye as I pushed it away with my thumb, gently leaning down and kissing the picture.

"I miss you, daddy." I whispered to myself.

I lightly put the picture back into it's place, careful to not damage it in any way. My feet padded across the carpet as I made my way down the steps. After we heard the news, apparently my mom had sat down in her chair by the fire place and hadn't moved. She stared at the pictures lining the shelves, soft whimpers occasionally leaving her mouth. She then would look to the chair my father always used to sit in. That was the place my parents would always talk, comfort each other, or share a laugh. I felt awful seeing my mom like this. She didn't even acknowledge me coming home. I don't think she realized I was gone.

"Mom? I'm going to make a snack for myself before graduation. Would you like something?"

She slowly turned to me, her eyes puffy and red from crying, and shook her head.

"But Haley."

I circled back around. "Yes?"

"Y-Your father's in a better place now. He's looking down on us at this very moment. And you know he hated when we were sad. I know you miss him. We all do. But heaven gained another angel. He loved you Haley. We all do."

I brought my hand up to wipe the tears away that began to fall. I walked to my mom, enveloping her in my arms. She pulled me back to face her.

"Now dry your tears. And lets go make that snack and then get you ready for your official last day of high school." Her expression finally turned into a smile.

I nodded, running to the kitchen.

********

"Charlie?"

"Hey, you still doing ok?"

"Yeah, I'm much better now. My mom and I had a good talk." I replied, speaking into the phone.

"That's great. Well in that case would you like to go out after graduation?

"Yeah, I think I could manage that."

"Great. I'll find you after then and we can leave straight from there."

"Sounds like a plan."

******

"You look beautiful, Hales. Are you ready?"

I nodded. "Let's go."

I followed behind my mom and brother as we all climbed into the car. It's finally here. Graduation from high school. I finally made it. No more mean girls, popularity, annoying high school teachers. Now it's time for something I've counted down the days for ever since I was in elementary school.

Graduation.

*******

"Sydney Elizabeth Abrams." The next name was called as the next girl walked onto the stage.