Nightingale (Haleb)

Epilogue

• Graduation Day •

I cannot believe that I actually made it here. After Em and Caleb found me on that cliff and took me back home, I was able to straighten my shit out.

I got better grades and made up the classes I still had to make up (which were a lot) but I made it through. Now, here I am today, in my cap and gown sitting with my classmates, all of us ready to graduate.

I get more and more nervous as they get closer to my name.

Aurora Maddox
Marcus Mahl
Janie Mallory
Nicholas Manning

And finally....

Hanna Marin

I get up and walk to the stage to accept my certificate. I look out into the crowd and see my nana cheering me on. I smile.
*******
After the graduation, I go over to my nana and hug her.

"I knew you could do it hanny" she says as she gives me a hug. "Thanks nana. For everything... for never giving up on me. I love you so much!" I say.

"I love you too Hanna." She says.

After I talked to my nana, I headed over to where Caleb was. I sat down waiting for him to finish talking to his family. He looked over at me and smiled. He came over to me and grabbed my hand, dragging me over to where he was.

We start talking to his family about what we are going to do next, and it was all very.. good.

I hadn't felt this good and happy in the longest.

• 2 years later •

Caleb and I have been dating for two years now. I love him so much. He is the best thing that could have ever happened to me. After I graduated, I decided not to go to college, I just took up a job at a local cafe to earn some money. I figured I should save up and show my father that I can live without him and his stupid family.

I have Caleb, and my nana, and Emily. They helped me through, and were there for me when he wasn't. Why would I need him?

Caleb said that today, since it's our 2 year anniversary, he is going to take me out for dinner.

Right now, I am in the process of picking out a dress. I should have started getting ready earlier, cause I'm running out of time. I should have been ready by now. I still have to do my hair and put my makeup on, so I grab the first dress I can find and put it on. It's pretty okay.

It's a white short dress with a black belt in the middle of it. I only have less than half an hour left to get ready so I just leave my hair down and brush it out, then I Donny makeup.

Caleb picks me up and we head over to the restaurant. The dinner was nice and now we were drinking champaign and about to order desert when Caleb sets his glass down and stands up.
I set my glass down, "What are you doing Caleb?"

My eyes widen as I comprehend what's going on.

"No..." I say as I see him get on one knee and pull out a small velvet box.

"Hanna... We've been dating for two years now and each year I've spent loving you, I realized that I never want to let you go. I fell for you the first time I saw you on that bridge. I knew that I always wanted to protect you, to keep you from getting hurt. I love you so much Hanna Marin. Will you marry me?"