Chapter Thirty Nine

Two weeks later…

The sun shone brightly down on the football field, rays bouncing off of the neatly trimmed green turf, adding to the almost perfect scenery surrounding the graduation ceremony. After thirteen years of school, the graduates were finally at the commencement ceremony that would mark the end of their high school years and the beginning of the rest of their lives.

The principal of the high school stood behind a podium, speaking out to a crowd of friends and family members to the graduates. After speaking for a few minutes he began the ceremony with an address from Megan Davis, the valedictorian.

Megan stood from her seat, getting several cheers from the crowd of graduates and the crowd of friends and family members watching from the stands of the football field. She stood behind the podium, setting a piece of paper in front of her, which contained an outline for her speech, as she began to speak.

"Wow," she began, "did any of you ever think we'd end up here so fast?"

She glanced around to her fellow classmates, one in particular: Charlie Garrison.

"The past four years have been amazing, tiring, crazy, sad, boring, and entertaining all in the same breath. I wish I could put in one speech what my past four years, most of which were spent here, have meant to me. These are the times that shape us as people, and everyone here will move on with their lives as better people from what they've learned and accomplished in high school…"

Megan continued with her speech, not tripping over any word. Her mother, Lisa, and Charlie's mother watched from the stands, and Megan's mother even began to cry as her daughter rounded out the speech.

"I'm so proud of her," she said, and Lisa gripped her hand.

"I am too."

The principal returned to the stand, relaying more words to the crowd, and invited the salutatorian up for his address. After that, a group of individuals rose from their seats and approached several microphones set up in front of the graduates, facing the crowd of spectators. This was the class's choice of individuals to sing their graduation song. In the center, Megan stood alone at her own microphone; she was chosen to sing the lead, which was no surprise to anyone in the class (outside of one or two competitors who were extremely sore losers.)

The music began, and Megan lead the group in singing their graduation song.

"You Raise Me Up"

By: Josh Groban

When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary;

When troubles come and my heart burdened be;

Then, I am still and wait here in the silence,

Until you come and sit awhile with me.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;

You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;

I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;

You raise me up: To more than I can be.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;

You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;

I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;

You raise me up: To more than I can be.

There is no life - no life without its hunger;

Each restless heart beats so imperfectly;

But when you come and I am filled with wonder,

Sometimes, I think I glimpse eternity.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;

You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;

I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;

You raise me up: To more than I can be.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;

You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;

I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;

You raise me up: To more than I can be.

Once the song rounded out most of the parents in the crowd were in tears, as was the usual custom of the graduation ceremonies.

The students returned to their seats and the principal began to pass out diplomas. The students filed by, taking their diplomas and giving the principal a handshake. A few gave a bit of comic relief for the emotional crowd, especially Danny, goofing off during his walk as he did at almost all times. Once it came time for Charlie's turn, Megan rose from her seat and pushed his wheelchair up to the line. Before Charlie began to roll across to get his diploma, he halted his wheels and stood. He then walked, limping but managing to get across with relative ease, a motion that made his mom burst into tears.

He looked into the crowd and his mother stared back at him, he raised the diploma to her and tipped his hat at her.

Upon the end of the graduates' walks, they returned to their seats. Then followed their turning of tassles, and the traditional walk to the center of the field where they threw their hats up in the air in one celebrated motion. And there marked the end of their high school journey, and the beginning of the rest of their lives.

Megan was with Charlie at this time, and she knew that everything would turn out for the better. They had forged a strong relationship in a short amount of time, and Megan had every confidence that she and Charlie would last. Through thick and thin, good times and bad, he was the man she loved.

The End