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“Finally, our final graduate of the day, Madison Wilson.”
My name is called, and I walk the stage, shaking hands and smiling for pictures, because we all know my mom is taking millions.
That’s it.
I am no longer in high school. I have graduated, third in my class, with honors, and am off to NYU to leave this place behind me forever.
“Maddie, you did it!!!” My mom is beaming with pride when we are released to find our families. She is all smiles today, and maybe some tears of joy are thrown in there too.
“Mom, I am so glad it is over. Let’s get out of here. I just need to go and grab my stuff from inside.” I tell her. If she smiles any bigger her face is going to crack in half. Maybe I won’t tell her about the baby today. She won’t be smiling then.
“Okay honey, I will go pull the car around front and we can go to dinner to celebrate! Your choice!” She says excitedly before she walks away to get the car and I head inside to get my things.
I am almost to the room where they had us put our belongings when I hear Kate’s voice in the hallway.
“Yeah guys, he said he wanted to get married. How exciting is that. But I mean, we are expecting a baby now, and it is the right thing to do. I knew I would get him all along.”
Just when I thought my heart could not break any more than it has, her words cut straight through me. I walk into the room and reach down to grab my things. Leave it to Kate to not be able to avoid a moment to turn the knife.
“Oh Maddie, I hope you didn’t just hear! No wait, I hope you did. I told you he was always mine. You were merely a place holder for him. We even had a bet going to see how long before he stole your virginity. Look, I even captured a photo of you in the act. I won the bet of course. I knew you would drag it out” she says arrogantly going on and on.
I don’t know what comes over me, but I slap her.
Hard.
Right across the face.
“You can have him, Kate. I could not be more done with him,” I scream.
What an end to high school. I walk out and head for the car.
I have no tears left to shed. It’s time to leave this all behind and be the woman my mom raised me to be.
Goodbye Boyd High School.
Wish I could say it’s been fun.