14 Days

[4]

Five Years Later

Madison was all ready to leave the house, dressed head to toe in dark maroon and bright violet, her high school colors, with a soft black gown over her normal clothes. She looked stunning as always, but even more so since she was grinning from ear to ear anticipating the wonderful feeling of freedom that was about to be bestowed upon her in the form of graduating.

"You will make an AMAZING nurse! NYU is very fortunate to have an intelligent person like yourself enrolled in their medical program. I'm even more fortunate than they are." I was calming the very few nervous butterflies Madison was having.

"Why's that El?" She'd taken to calling me that, said it sounded more cool than Elise.

"Because you are going to live at home, and I don't have to say goodbye to you yet." We had a sweet sister type of moment. I hugged her tightly and then started out the door.

The drive to Madison's high school was used as a time for me to remind her about all the adorable, and not so adorable, things she had done ever since she came to live with me. We reminisced on how hard it was to find a suitable routine when we were both so different. I reminded her of how proud of her I was and how when I met her she changed my life forever.

"You tell me that a lot El." Madison pointed out to me.

"I tell you that a lot because I want you to know how much what I'm saying is true." I pulled our medium sized dark green Ford Escape into one of the few parking spots left at the high school. Madison saw some of her friends and went inside with them while I stayed outside to call Sam on my newly acquired phone and pressed speed dial.

"How's my beautiful wife today?" I said once she picked up the phone.

"I'm doing good. I'll be having a much better day once I can see my lovely wife."

"Speaking of seeing me, when will you and your mom get here? The ceremonies start in one hour." I reminded her with a strained tone.

"Don't worry. I'll be there in about 15 New York minutes." Sam said, as if that was a good thing. I told her there would be a seat waiting for her when she got there. I gently pressed the end button on my phone and a beep tone plus a soft click sounded.

Someone sat in the seat next to me and when I turned to see that it was Sam. Jane (Mrs.Periwinkle) sat on the other side of me a moment later. Jane had started to smile more the day after Sam and I's wedding, and it looked good on her. Only a few years had passed since Sam and I met, but we both had changed and not just on the exterior. Once we got to know each other better we began to share moments that happened in our pasts. Sam had told me that his mom was never quite the same after her father passed away, and that it was too painful to continue using the name Mrs.Moore so she went back to her maiden name. I reminisced on very few of my childhood memories but Sam always understood that I didn't want to live in the past.

While we waited for the principal's speech to end we watched Madison sitting in her chair, looking nervous but ready to go at the same time. Madison had always been a determined person, if she set her mind to something it happened. That was why we got a dog when Madison was about 15, and that's how Madison was able to graduate with honors. There weren't too many kids graduating, but it felt like forever before Madison's row stood up as one, like a military squadron marching in unison. I had my camera ready to go and when her name was called Sam and I hooped and hollered. It was a happy day, one that became a memory that was forever engraved in my brain.