My Brother's Best Friend

Chapter 79

Just a heads up...less than ten chapters left.

Pops got out of the hospital about two weeks ago, he's doing a lot better. I've been home for two weeks now.

I was currently helping Jazmine get the kids ready and getting myself ready.

"I'm nervous." Jazzy admits.

"You'll do fine. You've already done this once." I smile at her.

My baby is graduating today.

"But this degree is bigger. And I have to give a speech." She frowns.

"You'll do amazing, baby. If you get nervous, just keep your eyes on me." I move some hair out of her face.

"Okay." She smiles.

"I'm so proud of you." I kiss her.

"Thank you." She returns the kiss.

My baby is graduating! I'm so proud of her. I know she's nervous, but she's gonna do amazing.

---

"And now, a speech from our valedictorian, Mrs. Jazmine August!" The principal smiles.

Jazmine approaches the stand, looking beautiful as ever in her cap and gown. She leaves me starstruck sometimes, a lot of the time, I swear.

"Hello, as he said, my name is Jazmine August. I honestly can't believe I'm up here right now giving this speech to you all. First, I would like to tell you a little about myself. I have four children with my husband, who I've been married to for nearly seven years. We got married in our senior year of highschool, and it shocked many people. Our marriage was frowned upon, but here we are now. Both of us married still, doing great in life and we're college graduates." Jazmine's eyes find mine, staying there.

"I had my first child at only fourteen." Many people gasped. "That alone made people think I would never go to college, never graduate, never have a good job and never be a good mother. When I tell people this, they automatically think I am a promiscuous woman, but all four of my children share the same father, who is also my husband. We've been best friends all our lives, our parents were best friends growing up as well. He was one my brother's best friends, and also my best friend."

"My second child was born when I was sixteen. Again, that was frowned upon. That made people think that I would definitely be nothing in life." She wiped under her eyes. "But I skipped a little piece there. My oldest daughter, she was kidnapped when she was only six months. My parents made me believe that she had been poisoned by paying the doctors to convince us, my husband and I, that she was dead. The machine flat-lined and she wouldn't wake up, it was believable. When we finally got her back, we got DNA test and dug up the grave. It was really her, they finally brought my baby back home."

"As a mother of two at only sixteen, people called me a lot of names that I don't want to repeat, they told me I wouldn't go anywhere. Now here I am. Happily married, graduating with my bachelor's degree, I own two stores that are doing great and have been running for years."

"Some of you may recognise me from the news. The first time I was ever on the news, my home had been broken into, I had been shot and my daughter's arm was broken. My husband's half-brother had broken out of prison and into my home with my old best friend." She clears her throat. "When the police had gotten there, I had already been shot and my daughters arm was broke. It was just me home at the time, my main focus was my children."

"Many people say that having my kids when I did was a mistake, but to me, they are the biggest blessing I've ever had and ever will have."

"I've worked so hard to make it, to prove people wrong about me. It's an honor to be here in front of you all, being able to share some things with you." She glances around the audience.