Bullied

Chapter 12 ~ Epilogue

ϟ ~ ϟ Epilogue  ϟ ~ ϟ

"So I have a quote for all of us by Arie Pencovici..." Jackson's voice spoke through the microphone. I smiled at him as did most of the students watching him. I closed my eyes ready to enjoy whatever words came out of his mouth. "Graduation is only a concept. In real life every day you graduate. Graduation is a process that goes on until the last day of your life. If you can grasp that, you'll make a difference." I let his words sink in and my smile grew wider. I slowly opened my eyes and gazed around me. Everyone had their eyes closed and a smile on their faces. "So, yes, that's what I'll leave you with. And remember, follow your dreams." He finished throwing a wink towards Maia and received a few chuckles from the crowd.

Then as he held his diploma in hand and went to sit to his chair, everyone started clapping, including me. Chase even whistled. And Maia was blushing madly but didn't hide her happiness.

One of the teachers went to stand in front of the microphone. "Irina Lind." He called and my breath hitched in my throat as everyone turned around to face me.

I gulped while standing up but had a smile on my face.

Despite the fact that I was damn nervous that my friends and family would collide, and worried about falling flat on my face in front of everyone as I walked up towards the podium to receive my diploma, I was happy for once. And the smile on my face didn't hide that.

As I stood in front of the microphone I took a few deep breaths just staring ahead of me.

I had prepared myself a day before for what was to come. I would speak in front of these people, most of them would hear me for the first time and I didn't have a problem with that.

"A very wise man, called Steve Jobs, once said that our time is limited, so we shouldn't waste it living someone else's life. We shouldn't let the noise of others' opinions drown out our own inner voice. And most important, to have the courage to follow our heart and intuition. They somehow already know what we truly want to become. Everything else is secondary." I said confidently receiving shocked looks from the teens sitting. I knew it was because they thought I wouldn't say anything. "My time in this school didn't start as I imagined it would have." I started and received some guilty looks for the graduates and some confounded ones from the parents. "But because of that, I've learned that it is important to have determination, optimism and patience. If you lack patience, when you face small obstacles, you'll slowly start to lose courage." I continued. "Thank God, I was full with patience." I tried joking and most of them laughed. I, myself, let out a small chuckle. "The last thing I want to say is pray. Even if all you can say is, 'Help me.'" I looked down at my hands and smiled. "We've worked hard. We are now one step closer to our dream." I stated and looked up once again. "So good luck and congratulations to us!" I finished with a shrug off my shoulders and literally everyone got up from their seat and clapped their hands. Some had even tears in their eyes.

Except from Ricky, who just rolled his eyes.

Well, I don't care what he thinks. For me, what I did was a huge step and I'm so proud of myself. Maia came rushing towards me and got me into a tight hug. I put my hands around her and hugged her too feeling finally at peace.

✝ ~ ✝ ~ ✝ ~ ✝~ ✝

I was getting ready to go out with Jackson, Chase and Maia when I heard the doorbell ring. My parents and Chris weren't here. Once they congratulated me and told me how proud they were and Chris letting out his first normal word, which was 'food', they went to visit our grandma who couldn't come. I would go there after I got to celebrate my graduation.