Maid For His Love {mxm}

Maid 34.

"You'll wind up like the wreck you hide behind that mask you use, and did you think this fool could never win? Well look at me, I'm coming back again, I got a taste of love in a simple way," I'm Still Standing, Elton John

I did it.

For the first time in four years, I made that fated call.

There was no answer, but I left a voicemail in hopes that it would reach her. Whether or not it did, I couldn't worry.

"To start off this year's graduation ceremony, I will have our valedictorian come to say a few words for his class," Professor Keaton spoke into the microphone as I smiled, feeling just a tiny bit of nerves. "Please welcome Ezra Moore!" I could feel my cords swinging as I sauntered towards the front of the stage, stepping onto the podium, looking into the various eyes of the students of the University of San Antonio, and their parents.

It was an enlightening experience. I had gotten the offer to give a speech in high school, but I couldn't because I was too scared. I wasn't the me that I am now. Standing on this stage, bright lights about and cameras flashing as they recorded me, I could see how much I had grown and how much every single student had grown since they walked through those double doors for orientation. I had gotten to know the majority of them, and I could say that we all helped each other in line.

I could see Nishan recording me with his new phone, a big smile on his face as he stood at the edge of the stage, making me feel awkward yet happy with a smile on my face. I could see Natalie holding up Noelani, clapping her hands as the crowd waited for me with curious eyes. I took a deep breath, reminding myself of who I was, before opening my mouth. "Good afternoon, parents, friends, faculty, mentors, administration and of course, the graduating class of 2018." For a school this small, we had a lot of people graduating early.

"Today marks the day that we step out into that great, big world and make something of ourselves. We are here because of us. We are here to celebrate OUR achievements. Personally, there's nothing greater than seeing others thrive and seeing the fruits of our labor in the end. As I stand here before you, I am proud to say that we did it, and we did it together. The endless amount of nights spent crying in the library before those big finals," I paused, hearing laughter in the crowd. "Or the quaking need to sleep in after being out all night with class the next day at 8 am," I blamed Travis, who was smirking in the crowd, for being the reason why I almost fell asleep in class during my sophomore year.

He always kept me out on the streets at night, claiming that we had to live the time of our lives.

"We pushed past through and now here we are, at the end of the road. Our journey isn't over though. There will be different paths to take for every single person. Find out what is for you, what makes you happy and run down that path. Now is the time to act," I continued speaking, speaking from the bottom of my heart. I looked at everyone in the eye, making sure they knew that the time was now because the opportunity was ours to take.

A part of me wanted to invite Emmanuel and Joella Moore to the ceremony, but they weren't there to witness me on my first day of class, and they weren't there to see me on my last. I figured, why waste my time?

They made their life without me, and I needed to do the same and make my life without them.

"Some of us found our forever people," I looked at Travis, who winked at me, then to Andrew and Korina, who blew kisses at me simultaneously. "Some of us found a reason to grow," I looked at everyone else. "Some of us found happiness," I looked to Lucia and her husband. "And some of us found love," Somehow, I caught my gaze drifting to Nishan, who mouthed one single sentence to me.