“Thanks, Angel. I know
When we hung up the phone I had nothing to do but watch the clock and try to envision what was happening at the ceremony. By five I assumed that it was over and that I was officially a high school graduate. I wiped away the tear that rolled down my cheek and rested my head on my pillow. My parents left for a few minutes to grab something to eat in the cafeteria and I was glad to have some time to myself. When the nurse came in earlier I asked her to pass my purse to me. I made sure to keep it where I could get to it myself when everyone left out. My parents and AJ discouraged me from looking at my face, and that only made me more curious to see what it looked like. I was reduced to sneaking, so I retrieved my compact and braced myself.
I held my breath and quickly lifted the mirror so that I could see. When I did, I gasped and almost dropped the tiny mirror to the bed. It was even worse than I imagined. I tried to count the tiny marks, but it was next to impossible to keep track of which ones I’d already pointed out. They didn’t seem to be very deep, but that didn’t do anything to make me feel any better for the time being. I quickly concealed the mirror before anyone came into the room. They were right to keep me from seeing myself, but I was hardheaded and did what I wanted. Stupid.
At 5:45pm, the door opened slowly and AJ crept inside with a duffle bag slung over his shoulder. He was dressed in an all black suit with an ocean blue shirt and matching tie. My face lit up when I laid eyes on him. Even after nearly eight months, he was still like a breath of fresh air to me.
“I’m glad you’re back,” I said softly.
“That makes two of us. How’re you feeling?”
“Better than I look,” I replied. He looked at me curiously, and then realized from my expression that I’d snuck a peek at my face.
“If you’d waited another week or so, it would’ve had more time to heal.”
“A week or so? Are we talking about the same face? I look like that little girl from the Exorcist! Hair and all!”
He tried not to laugh, but it slipped out. “Well, you still look good to me,” he replied mocking Antonio from the other day.
“Shut up.” I looked at the duffle bag questioningly. “What’s in there?”
“Just a change of clothes. I wanted to come straight here, so I brought my stuff with me.”
“Awww……isn’t that sweet?” I replied jokingly.
He smiled. “Whatever. Be back in a sec.” I watched him as he turned to head for the bathroom down the hall. My parents returned before he made it back.
“Have you heard from AJ yet?” Daddy asked.
I was a little shocked that he cared. “Yeah, he’s here already. He just went to the bathroom to change out of his suit.”
Daddy looked thoughtful for a moment. “I was wrong about him,” he said as he shook his head from side to side, scolding himself. “That boy’s been here for you just as much as we have.”
Mom looked at me and smiled. “He really loves you.”
“I know he does, and I feel the same way about him,” I replied. Daddy continued to think to himself.
AJ walked back into the room at that moment, dressed in jeans and a plain white t-shirt. All eyes were on him and he seemed to be surprised.
“We were just talking about you,” my mother said cheerfully.
He smiled in response. “Something good I hope.”
She moved toward him and touched his arm. “Of course. We were just telling Samantha how much we appreciate you being here for her the way you have. That means a lot…..to all of us. Thank you.”
He smiled at her appreciatively. “You don’t have to thank me.” The smile on his face faded a little as he stared at me. “There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for her.”