20
10 Years Ago
Senior Year, Second Semester
I knew lifewould change after graduation, but I never could have predicted such a harsh line in the sand. The call comes when I’m in my navy cap and gown, queued up alphabetically with the rest of the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences majors waiting to file into the auditorium. Danielle’s name flashes on my phone, and as I step out of line to answer it, my stomach churns with excited, anxious nausea.
Life rarely hands you such an obvious life-altering before-and-after moment, but as I answer Danielle’s call with sweaty palms and a medically concerning heartbeat, I know that this is the biggest moment of my life thus far. I’m ten minutes from my college graduation, but fifty years from now, when I think about today, this is the moment I’ll remember.
Our call is quick, and when I retake my place with the rest of the graduates, no one around me knows about the tectonic shift that has taken place under my feet. My book sold at an auction between eight publishing houses. The amount of money makes my head spin, second only to the emotionalvertigo that swallows me whole when I realize there will be a book, with my name on it, on a bookshelf.
I can’t believe it.
The guy in front of me turns around with a scowl, and I realize I must have uttered that out loud. “What?” he asks.
I shake my head, trying to bring myself back to reality. “I can’t believe we’re graduating,” I say, because this random man will not be the first person to know that I achieved the goal I’ve worked toward for as long as I can remember.
“What’s your major?” he asks, and I can’t help but laugh. Hopefully this is the last time in my life I’ll have to answer that question.
“Creative writing.”
He chuckles a bit too much for someone also graduating with a liberal arts degree. “What are you going to do now? Write the next great American novel?” His casual condescension would bug the shit out of me on any other day.
“Something like that.” The ceremony starts in ten minutes, but I risk slipping away again. I text West to meet me, and a minute later, I crash into his arms outside the doors of Centennial Hall.
“What’s going on?” He grabs my shoulders and holds me at arm’s length, his eyes roving over my face.
“My book sold. I’m going to be a published author.”
His face splits into a grin. He wraps his arms around me and spins me until my feet are off the ground. When he sets me down, his eyes are shining with tears. “I’m so fucking proud of you, Jupiter.”
“I couldn’t have done it without you.”
He shakes his head. “This was all you.” He bends for a kiss. “The graduates are going in. You don’t want to miss it.”
“I don’t really care, to be honest.”
“You’re not skipping graduation.”
“C’mon, West. I just got hired at my dream job! Why do I need to walk?”
“Because your parents are inside waiting to cheer as you cross that stage. We’ll celebrate after, I promise.” We kiss again, and he squeezes my hand as we enter through the glass doors and separate: I join the graduates, and he sits with my parents in the auditorium.
I don’t absorb a single word of my graduation ceremony, but it doesn’t matter.
I did it.
I can finally stop running.
My parents takeme to a late lunch after the ceremony, and they’ve settled into a lecture on the cost of living in New York when I tell them the good news. As soon as I get my first check, I’ll not only be able to afford my half of rent, I’ll also be able to pay back their tuition money.
I’ve never seen my mom speechless. It’ssosatisfying.
They have a million questions. Am I sure it’s not a scam?Yes. Do I have a backup plan if the book doesn’t do well?No, but thanks for the vote of confidence.Do I plan to branch out from YA and write a “real book” next?
I don’t dignify that with a response, but Idoorder an extra-strong drink.
After lunch, my parents come to the house and help me pack everything I own. Amber is keeping all the furniture, so it’s just a matter of throwing clothes and shoes and books intoboxes and drinking old margarita mix from the fridge in order to tolerate my parents.
