The Girl of The Sun

sixteen

                           One Month Later
Today is the 1st of June, I'm graduating today. Finally, the day is here. Time really does fly by, I understand that now anytime I hear elderly people say that. Just yesterday it felt like it was my last day of elementary school, now it's my last day before the rest of my life begins. Just in two months, I'd be on a plane to Paris, I'll be in a completely different environment. I definitely can say I'm extremely relieved to leave Poblano, but I'm also a little nervous. I'm so used to the same restaurants and friends and old buildings here, what if Paris is too fast paced for me? Well, I'll take that than another year in this sad town, that's for sure. I've also been practicing my french like you would never believe. The Duolingo app really does come in handy. Rafael and I still haven't spoken, and I won't lie and say that it doesn't hurt to see him and Meadow walking the hallways together like they once did back then, just a few months ago, he was at my side, we were together planning our future. Time doesn't just go by fast but it changes things, his love for me being one of them. But I try not to let it overwhelm me. The day where I leave everything behind is what I'm looking forward too, it keeps me going.

   The graduation ceremony is at 12:00 on the football field. It's a bright sunny day, everything is so green and lush and brand new. It's a happy time, a time to move forward. I get to the school 30 minutes before it starts like they told everyone to. I meet up with Alexander, Estrella and a few of our other friends. I wear my black platform sandals and wear my hair straightened. We all have our cap and gowns on, the boys' are red and girls' are white. Finally the ceremony starts, and when they call Raf's name my heart sinks to the floor. I hate hearing his name because it hurts. When they call my name, I can hear my mom, dad, brother, my abuelas cheering. It's nice to hear my dad cheering my on, I forgot how good that felt after so many years. When the ceremony was over, all of our parents were taking group pictures of us, ones that I am going to cherish forever.

"Aye my hita linda I'm so proud of you," My Abuela Maria, my dad's mom, hugs me tight, "We're gonna meet you at the house and will start decorating the backyard and get ready for your graduation party."

"Thank you Abuela, I'll be there soon, i'm gonna say goodbye to some friends."

All of my family leaves and I take one last moment walking around the school. I soak everything in, every single square of this school has a memory. I take a look at the spot underneath the bleachers. I remember one time during a fire drill freshman year, Estrella and I stepped in mud and had to have our moms pick us up early. I smile and laugh to myself, remembering that very moment. I walk back to my car and as I turn a corner, I run into someone. Someone tall, dark, and who smells really, really good. It's Rafael, as always I run into him. He looks good, clean shaven, a white dress shirt, black tie and pants, he looks more muscular than before. Apart of his scent reminds me of days of when it was just him and I. Apart of me feels bad about not telling him about the pregnancy, and I wish I could just run in his arms so he could carry me back to his car and take me to his house. So things can be back to where they were, but they can't right now.

"Hi Fabi, sorry I didn't see you." He plays with his hair in a trying not to make things more awkward kind of way.

"Oh, um hi. It's okay, congratulations, we did it." I tried to sound comfortably happy about graduating but I end up sounding more ridiculous than I thought.

"Yeah, finally. So um I heard you're going to school in Paris. My mom still talks about you a lot and still is friends with your mom, so I heard the big news."

"Yeah I am, I'm pretty excited but I'm a little nervous."

"Yeah I could imagine, I'm uh, I'm really happy for you Fabi. In fact i'm proud of you, actually. How's Chai doing?"