Graduation 2

Dear Imena,

Eventually, I stopped seeing the shadow. Whatever was following me seemed to loose interest in me and left me alone.

A few years passed, and I graduated from high school on Earth. I had my division's army there in disguise in case Andrew decided to attack. The other Council members were there as well, but of course he never made an appearance.

The event went as planned. It was a very nice ceremony, and I was very excited to be graduating. I graduated as the top of my class, but I refused the traditional valedictorian speech I was supposed to give, and I ended up giving that speech time to the salutatorian. That girl wanted the valedictorian spot so bad, and she really worked to get it. Compared to her, it looked like I did nothing to get there.

She was very excited for the speech, and while I want to say it was amazing, I wasn't really listening. I was watching everything, waiting for an attack. But again, nothing happened. After a few other speeches, we got our diplomas and went our separate ways.

Milo and I celebrated together with our families. I still remember the dress I wore to dinner that night. A tight, spaghetti strapped baby blue sequin dress, that rested just above my knees. I paired the dress with some gold heels, big gold hoops, and my newly cut, curly hair parted to the side and worn down.

After dinner Milo and I drove off together, and we found a spot to watch the sun set. We made out in his car more than we watched the sun set, but our parents didn't need to know that. I doubt they believed we just sat and watched the sun set anyway.

Sometimes I dream about that day. I can see Milo's smile, and hear his sweet laugh. I can smell his cologne. He didn't like that one, but I did, so he wore it for me. Sometimes, I can even feel his lips on mine, and his arms around me. There are times that I reach out and touch his face, and I can feel it. He's right there.

It's always at this point that I begin to cry. I hear my sweet love's voice ask me what's wrong, and if I'm ok. It sounds exactly like him...but I know it's not him. Because when I wake up, he's not lying there next to me.

I tend to be very forgiving, most of the time too forgiving, and I don't really ever hold grudges. But I will never forgive Andrew for what he did. Never.

- 𝒮. 𝑅𝑜𝓈𝑒