The Sweetest Honey

Graduation

Clara’s point of view

Wendy is rushing me towards the theater building where the ceremony is being held. We are both wearing tall heels, and she has a lot more practice running in them. At this point I’m doing my best not to fall on my face. We get to the doors and walk in with 15 minutes to spare.

Wendy looked at me “I told you we would make it on time.” I can hardly reply because I’m still breathing hard from the walk, so I just shake my head up and down. Next thing I know I’m knocked down face first. I catch myself with my hands before my nose meets the floor. I look up so see Vivian with a stupid smug look on her face.

“Looks like the trailer trash managed to pay for her robe after all. Too bad it’s all dirty now.” She says in her brassy voice. I don’t even bother responding. I have avoided fighting her for years out of fear that the school would find out my living conditions and take me away from my mom. No way was I going to start a fight and ruin my graduation that I fought so hard for.

A hand reaches down to lift me up, and I grab it. Wendy is holding my arm now, and I can feel the anger radiating off of her. Wendy yells

“Get lost, skank.”

and pushes Vivian back, catching her by surprise, nearly making her fall. My smile faded fast when the two strong arms that caught her were from my ex-boyfriend Drake. My heart sank into my stomach when I looked up at his face. He was the first person I ever loved, and he hurt me so badly.

“What’s the problem here, ladies?” he asked. Vivian responded first, saying how I was still jealous that she had stolen him away from me. I nearly gasped at the audacity she had. He looked up at me and smirked.

“Are you still mad about me leaving you for a real woman? You were a prude and probably still are. You could never fully satisfy me.”

With that, he shrugged his shoulders, and him and Vivian started laughing and walked away while tears threatened to fall from my eyes. I blink back the tears and take a look at Wendy.

“I’m so sorry, Clara. I never meant to start any of that, but she just p***** me off so bad.”

“Don’t worry, Wendy. I don’t blame you for any of it. Let’s just hurry up and go they are about to start the ceremony.”

We both take off for our seats, which were in the front since we both were graduating at the top of the class. Thankfully Vivian and my ex Drake we're both seated far away from us so I didn’t have to think about them anymore.

The ceremony seemed to drag on, I refused to do a speech, but I made sure to listen to Wendy’s. Her speech was wonderful, and it brought a tear from my eye. They began calling up the graduates after she got down. While I was sitting there waiting for my turn to go up, I swear I could feel eyes staring at the back of my head. I also kept getting whiffs of Someone’s caramel mocha coffee. It was the most enticing smell I’ve ever smelled before, and I could not figure out where it was coming from because no one near me had any cups. When it was finally my turn to get my diploma, I almost didn’t even realize they called my name because the smell was so distracting. I got up to the stage and smiled and looked out and saw my mom. I haven’t seen her outside of the house in a very long time and I couldn’t help the tears that came when I realized she had come to see me. I took my diploma and walked off the stage happier than I’ve been probably in my entire life. I can finally be free of school and work towards my dreams of getting my mom out of debt, getting us in better living conditions, and opening a business with Wendy. Through all of the struggles I have endured, I still managed to make it. I got to my seat and wept tears of joy for the first time in my life.