Chapter 32
Today was finally graduation day.
Kassia had taken Chicago earlier that morning to visit Mrs. Charity before returning to Christy's house, where she was now getting ready. The graduation ceremony was set to begin at 10 a.m.
It had been two days since the entire world discovered she was engaged to Cain. Since then, her life had descended into chaos. Paparazzi trailed her everywhere. She had practically gone into hiding, camping out at Christy's house to avoid the media storm.
And as for her mother—Caesarea had mysteriously vanished right after the award ceremony. No one had heard from her since.
"What is Cain saying about the marriage plans?" Christy asked suddenly, snapping Kassia out of her daze.
Kassia blinked, startled by the interruption. "Nothing yet. And I pray he forgets this whole marriage nonsense," she muttered.
"Well, at least you're famous now," Christy said with a playful shrug.
"Don't even go there," Kassia shot back. "All I ever wanted was to graduate and focus on becoming the best version of myself."
"And you still can," Christy interjected. "Maybe even better—with Cain by your side."
Before Kassia could respond, Christy's phone rang. She picked it up. "Hi… Yes, we're done getting ready. We'll meet you outside," she said before hanging up. "That was Williams. He's outside waiting."
"Don't scream," Christy said, her eyes sparkling. "I got an email this morning—I've been accepted into the university I chose!"
Kassia gasped, then let out a scream of joy. "Babe, really?! Oh my God!" She rushed to hug her best friend tightly. "I'm so happy for you!"
"What about you?" Christy asked.
"I got an email last week," Kassia admitted. "But with everything going on, I haven't even checked it yet."
Before they could say more, Williams's voice rang out from outside. "Okay ladies! Enough with the chitchat. Let's go!"
On the way to the venue, Kassia leaned in and whispered, "Later, you have to gist me about you and Williams. You two are way closer than normal friends."
"Finally took you both forever to get into the damn car," Williams grumbled from the driver's seat.
Twenty minutes later, they arrived at the venue. Kassia looked around in awe.
"Are you nervous?" she asked Christy.
"A little," Christy replied.
"Wow, Christy… Look at this place. You really outdid yourself," Kassia said, genuinely impressed.
"Come on, let's go see a few people before the ceremony starts," Williams said, taking Christy by the hand and pulling her away.
"Keep a seat for me!" Christy shouted over her shoulder.
Left alone, Kassia took a moment to soak in the atmosphere. "This place is really beautiful," she murmured to herself. She took a seat and pulled out the speech she would soon deliver as valedictorian, reading through it one last time.
"Kassia!" someone called.
She turned to see Mrs. Charity hurrying toward her.
"Kassia," the woman said warmly, pulling her into a hug.
"Mrs. Charity!" Kassia smiled, embracing her.
"I wanted to see you and Caleb before I travel," Charity explained. "Today is such a big day for all of you. I'm so happy."
"Thank you so much," Kassia said.
Mrs. Charity's smile dimmed slightly. "Your husband said he's busy and won't be able to make it."
Before Kassia could respond, the principal's voice boomed through the speakers.
"Okay everyone, let's settle down—it's about to begin."
"We'll talk later," Mrs. Charity said, gently squeezing Kassia's hand before they parted ways and took their seats.
The ceremony began with the principal, Mrs. Henrybells, congratulating the graduating students for their resilience and dedication.
"You've crossed the finish line, and I couldn't be prouder of each and every one of you," she declared.
Excitement surged through the crowd, and students erupted into cheers.
"And now," she continued, "please give a warm round of applause for our valedictorian—Kassia Wave!"
The auditorium erupted in applause. Murmurs and cheers rose as some in the crowd whispered about the news—she was now Cain's bride-to-be.
Kassia stepped up onto the stage, her heart pounding. She took a deep breath and smiled as she approached the microphone.
"Thank you, Principal Henrybells," she began, her voice calm but filled with emotion. "We made it."
A wave of quiet swept over the audience.
"I remember the first time I walked into high school—wide-eyed, nervous, and secretly counting the months until graduation. Back then, this day felt so far away. But here we are.
"We've cried, laughed, grown, and stumbled. We've made friendships that turned into family and faced challenges that felt impossible. But we pushed through. And now, we stand at the edge of a new beginning.
"As we step into this next phase of life, remember this: your journey will not always be smooth. But if you stay humble, stay diligent, and remain consistent—you can accomplish anything. Consistency is the bridge between dreams and reality. Never forget that.
"To my fellow graduates—be fearless. Be kind. Be relentless in chasing your goals. And when the world tells you that you can't, show it that you can.
"Congratulations, Class of 2025—we made it!"
The crowd erupted with applause, cheers, and celebratory screams. Graduation caps flew into the air in joyful chaos.
And in that moment, standing under the bright lights, Kassia felt something she hadn't felt in a long time—hope.
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Author's note
"Yeah, I know it's very short.
I'll post the next chapter in a few hours."
Xoxo
CC