Page 95 of #Lovestrong

Epilogue

Lena

2020 Lakeview High School Graduation Ceremony

Four Months Later

"Ugh, I hate that he's missing this," I say, sitting forward in my auditorium seat and scanning the crowd again for my dad. I know he's here, but today isn't the same without Declan walking with us.

I shouldn't complain though. After the accident, his leg was so badly broken, the doctors thought maybe he wouldn't walk the same. He's done physical therapy though and is getting his strength back, and all his scans and tests are pointing toward a full recovery.

Declan's dad talked to WSU, and they said even if Declan can't play football come the start of the semester, they'd be happy to convert his athletic scholarship to an academic one.

"You know, you're more upset than he is," Darcy says with a chuckle from beside me.

"Shush, you." I flop back in my seat and peek at her. She’s grinning like an idiot and I can't help but laugh. Ever since Declan's accident, his sister has done a complete turnaround. She's stopped hanging with the troubled kids and even ditched Myra. Her grades improved, she's been nicer than I've ever seen, and she attends church with us every Sunday.

Declan still hasn't been able to go, but the pastor goes to the hospital for an hour every Sunday and sits with him so he can discuss that week's sermon. I've never heard of a pastor doing that, but then again, our pastor is pretty awesome.

I glance down at my hand and smile at the promise ring on my left ring finger. The last four months have been such a mess of wonderful and emotional moments. Declan made me promise not to miss another day of school, which I haven't, since I've been bringing his work to him as well.

We do homework together and study every afternoon. I spend the night at the hospital with him on the weekends, and we watch movies, read, or play board games. He's been adamant that once a week I go out with Jackson and Candice because he doesn't want me being in the hospital all the time. That demand caused a lot of fights during the first month, but we got past it.

I started going back to counseling. Declan was pretty upset when he found out I stopped going, and honestly, I'm really glad he talked me into going back.

"And here comes the Boss-Man," Darcy says under her breath, pulling my attention to the stage.

Our principal, Mr. Kelrite, stops behind the podium and taps the mic three times, effectively silencing the audience, which is pretty much the entire student body and most of the town. I’m glad I talked him into letting Darcy attend graduation. This is a huge day, and it wouldn’t be right for both she and Declan to miss this.

"Today, we celebrate the graduating class of 2020," he says, followed by hoots and hollers from the Senior class.

We're not a large class, but we’re loud.

"Now, to get things underway, please welcome football star and valedictorian, Mr. Declan Harp."

The crowd erupts and my jaw drops. From the left side of the stage, the curtain billows just before Declan comes onto the stage in a wheelchair pushed by his father. I can't stop staring, and I'm not sure if I want to run up and kiss him or yell at him for not telling me he'd be here.

His father stops the chair a few feet from the podium and Declan waves to the room. My breath catches in my throat as he reaches down and flips up the metal flaps his feet sit on. Carefully, he places his hands on either side of the arm rests and pushes himself to a standing position.

Before I know it, I'm on my feet as he walks slowly but with confidence to the podium, leaning forward with his hands on either side.

"I think my girlfriend might yell at me after this, since I lied and said I wouldn't be able to make it today. I also failed to let her know I started walking this week. Sorry, baby." He looks directly at me with a huge smile on his face, and the tears roll down my cheeks as I laugh out loud with everyone else.

I mouth the words ‘I love you’ to him before sitting down again. Darcy reaches over and laces her fingers with mine, resting her head on my shoulder.

"Today, the Class of 2020 prepares to end one journey before we all embark on the next," Declan says to the crowd.

Everyone goes quiet and for the next twenty minutes, the only sound in the auditorium is him. Every eye is on his face as he speaks about high school and his accident, and seamlessly takes that right into God's love.

"Each of us will move on and continue to face life as it throws both joys and hurdles our way. But we do so knowing Our Father leaves nothing to chance. When I look at my beautiful girlfriend, I'm reminded every day that He knows exactly what He's doing, and with each trial, He shapes us to be his strongest soldiers. More importantly, He gives us the priceless gifts of both grace and undying love, not only from Him but from those He's meant for us. I don't know about the rest of you, but I’m excited to see what He has in store for me. So today, we celebrate. Tomorrow, we get back to work."

As Declan nods toward the crowd, the cheers and applause are deafening.

He makes eye contact with me and I smile, his words ringing true in my mind. Yes, today we celebrate and tomorrow we work. We work at overcoming our trials and our pain. We work to live our lives as Christ wants us to. But more importantly, we work to love each other and those we're blessed to know.

Each day is a blessing, and none of us knows when our time is up, so I plan to love Declan each moment as if it's the only moment we get.