(✓) 𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐢𝐝𝐞 • [𝒅𝒂𝒏𝒊𝒆𝒍 𝒔𝒆𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒚]

seventeen.

Dedicated to the Class of 2020

♡

It's finally here: graduation day. Nine months ago, I would have never been able to guess everything that I would go through. A new boyfriend. New friends. Losing my virginity. Losing my dad. All things considered, it's amazing I even made it this far.

I give my hair a few final brushes while I examine myself in the full-length mirror. I'm wearing tan wedges and a white V-neck dress that sits just above my knees.

I place a loving hand on my dad's birthday necklace. The tear shape now holds a lot more meaning. It's the losses I've faced. It's the ocean and her tides. It's the birth of something new.

As I put my brush back on the dresser, a flash of silver on the floor catches my eye. I pull out a small silver charm bracelet, the one that spells MINE. Leave it to Daniel to worm his way into my day, even unintentionally.

Over the past couple months, I've slowly started to move on from him. Every reminder of him takes me back three steps, though. Seeing him on Jack's Instagram stories is enough, but the bracelet... it's too much.

I place it back on the dresser, deciding to deal with it later.

When I get downstairs, my mom, Rory, and Harlow are waiting with gleeful eyes. They all let out awww's when they see me in my dress. I give them a playful twirl and let out a soft laugh. I've been learning to laugh again lately.

"You look so pretty!" Rory rushes to me with a hug.

"Look at my little sis, all grown up," Harlow coos proudly. I give her a thankful hug.

My mom tears up behind them. She puts a hand over her mouth trying to hold it back.

"Aww, mom don't cry," I say with a smile. The three of us wrap her in a group hug.

"Your dad would be so proud," she says. "I'm so proud of you, Aspen."

"I love you guys," I tell them, tightening my hug.

A few moments later, my mom pulls away. "Okay, come on, guys! We're going to be late."

The drive to the high school is short but full of happy memories. We blast songs from our favorite childhood shows to get pumped up. My mom drops me off in front of the gym, where they're holding the seniors until it's time to walk.

I immediately find Hanna in the crowd. We take selfies and chat with our other friends. As much as we've been waiting for this moment, none of us can believe that this moment is finally here. Before we know it, the teachers are lining us up to head outside.

In a single file, we make our way out to the football field that sits across the parking lot. Some latecomers to the ceremony whistle and cheer their congratulations at us.

Once it's my turn to step onto the field, I suddenly understand why the football players are so cocky. The cheers from the crowd echo from the stands. I'm filled with a sense of pride and accomplishment that I never imagined I would feel just from graduating high school.

I see my mom, Rory, and Harlow in the stands. Jack and Jensen have joined them now, too, and they're all waving and cheering at me.