Bookworms | ✔

forty-five

The day had finally arrived. Nicholas was graduating. He was moving on from a life of pain and depression. He was leaving the days of ignorance and hollow bliss. He was free from the chains that deemed him unworthy of affection. College had been more than an education to him; it was an experience.

He sat in a large auditorium as the lustrous lights glowed against the dark ceilings, painting across the surface, a polished platform a couple feet away as hundreds of students lined in their black robes. Graduation hats sat proudly upon their heads like crowns of achievement that opened a door to their future. Their wide eyes glimmered with awe, with pride in their studies.

The blocks of satisfaction had risen, building carefully towards the highest peak where all his peers knew they'd one day achieve. At this peak, there was no school. At this peak, there were no screams of frustration. At this peak, their wildest dreams had rested. That peak was their goals, their aspirations, their future. Like his professor had said, college was only one part of life.

The murmuring quieted to an echoing silence, heavy footsteps patted against the floor, a constant rhythm against the garnished wood. Nicholas knew Humaid and Dina sat in the audience, eagerly awaiting the ceremony and decorated certificates. The Younes clan cheered and chanted Haroon's name as they watched him approach the podium, their lips dripping with an overwhelming grasp of a reality. Haroon's parents were proud of their son, but Nicholas couldn't say the same about his.

He didn't know if they showed up.

Pushing the thought aside, Nicholas jeered his attention back to Haroon, blinking back the tears that threatened to spill. It doesn't matter, he tried to convince himself, I don't care if they choose to come.

Yet as the clock kept ticking, his heart grew heavy. His chest constricted painfully, lungs closing as he gasped a shaky breath. The action startled Elijah, who turned in his seat to hold Nicholas as he doubled over.

"Whoa, Nick. What happened?"

No one seemed to notice through their haze of relief from college life. All attention was on the stage for the student speech, except Elijah and Nicholas. His best friend's darkened skin glistened with a drop of sweat, trailing down the rough curls under his hat. Stress evidently lined his forehead, brown eyes frantically searching Nicholas's visage for any answers.

Nicholas opened his mouth to wave off the worry, but his lips felt dry, the words becoming a desert of evaporated water. The once fluid words refused to spill, a sign that his lie was not worth the effort.

"T-They... my parents," he stumbled for words, meeting Elijah's gaze, "they didn't come."

His eyes widened. "They wouldn't miss your graduation, right?"

"But they did," he whispered brokenly. Don't succumb to the darkness again, Nicholas reminded himself. Don't be weak.

A heavy hand fell onto his shaking pale one, grasping it firmly in its warmth. Nicholas stared at Elijah with confusion swirling within, but his friend merely smiled.

Life was strange in many ways. When there was a lapse of detrimental sadness, there was always a loving force to wash it away, a person to wipe away his tears and pull Nicholas back up.

It was a shame it took Nicholas so long to appreciate it.

"It's going to be okay, Nick," comforted Elijah as his hold tightened. "You have so many people in your life now. We're your family too. If your parents aren't here to celebrate with you, then you have your friends. You have me."

Slowly, the heavy frown had lifted. "Thanks, Elijah."

He only nodded, releasing Nicholas's hand as they both focused their attention back on Haroon. There he was, a silky robe shimmering in the blinding light. His light brown eyes scanned the audience, keeping his smile intact.