Chapter 16 Sadia
“Girl, if you don’t stop crying, I’m going to let you go out of this house looking like a raccoon,” Alicia fusses.
Today is the day that my two years of hard work finally pays off.
It’s graduation day. My emotions have been all over the place since I picked up my cap and gown a week ago.
Tears have found their way to my face ever since, and I’m struggling to keep it together.
This is the moment I have prayed for, and excitement blends with sadness.
Dad will be in the audience; the woman I’ve been working so hard to make happy won’t be.
The knowledge of my mother’s absence hits me like a ton of bricks, even more today than any other.
I have never met my mother, so I’m not sure why this moment feels like it’s suffocating me, but it is.
I’ve got to get myself together because it’s almost time to head to the convention center, where graduation is being held.
“It’s going to be great, bestie. Please stop crying,” Alicia pleads.
“Okay. Okay. I think I got them all out now,” I say.
Alicia and I engage in a stare-down as comfort shines in her eyes, and somehow, the longer our eyes meet, the calmer I become.
My phone vibrates just as Alicia nods and goes through the process of once again reapplying my makeup.
This is the third time she’s done it, and I can imagine her frustration with me.
I lift my phone from my lap and open my text app to see a new message from my man.
My man. Wow. It’s crazy how things have changed in such a short time. I have a man and am about to get my degree . . . God is awesome.
Chance:
I know you’re probably getting ready to head to the convention center. But I want to be the first to say, congratulations. I'm so fucking proud of you, Dia. You did that shit!
Chance doesn’t know how hard my journey has been or the work it’s taken to keep pressing forward. But damn if my chest doesn’t stretch and my heartbeat accelerates when I read his words.
“Now, I’ve been in here trying to quarterback your mood all day, and you get one text and all of a sudden you’re good. Hm. I don’t know if I should high-five or slap your man for doing what I couldn’t today.”
A lopsided smile upturns my lips as my eyes shift from my phone to Alicia.
“Who said it was my man?”
“The light in your eyes and the rosiness of your cheeks. It’s all the confirmation I need.”
I laugh, with no further commentary, because she’s effectively identified the person responsible for my swift change in disposition.
Time flies faster than I’d like, and before long, it’s time for me to head to the graduation location.
Alicia insisted that she and I go together, and with my jittery nerves, I realize that’s a great idea.
The drive downtown on a Sunday afternoon isn’t as congested as it would be on a Saturday, so it takes us no time to arrive.
“Oh shit!” Alicia says that when we turn the corner, and vehicles are everywhere, leading up to the garage we need to park in.
“Maybe we should have left a little earlier.” I chew on my inner cheek as my eyes bounce around the area at all the people and vehicles in the vicinity.
Thanks to the commotion and overflow of people, I have to practically run to the room where all of the graduates gather.
Unlike a high school ceremony, college students don’t get the courtesy of a rehearsal, so I’m not sure where I’m supposed to be.
Adrenaline rushes through my body as I find someone who can direct me.
Luckily for me, there are individuals in place specifically for that reason, so I’m in my spot within fifteen minutes.
Students stand around talking to one another, but all I can do is take in the chaotic atmosphere.
Some people are on their phones, while others are fixing their gowns.
Not too far from me, a woman applies her makeup before she puts on her kitten heels.
Her greasy ginger hair looks like it needs to be washed, as it hangs limp on her shoulders.
Next to her is a man with locs that have seen better days if the two inches of new growth are any indication.
People enter and exit the room at a rapid, distracting pace, making my eyes bounce around like a ping-pong ball.
There’s so much going on that it actually allows my nerves to settle just a little bit.
“Alright, everyone. It’s time for us to lead you out. Please get in your places, and we’ll get started as soon as we’re given the go-ahead,” a woman near the door shouts, and the room automatically quiets.
Oh God! This is it. This is what I’ve been working toward.
Three and a half hours later, my face is wet again as I clench the thick binder that contains my degree inside.
This moment is one I’m unable to form thoughts for, and even with the mundane ceremony, merriment flows through me.
Dad, Alicia, D’Essence, and a few of my cousins run to me.
Behind them, my eyes land on the man whose strides toward me cause my treasure to moisten.
Unlike the rest of my people, Chance isn’t in a hurry, but his presence fills me with something far more appealing than theirs does.
“I’m so proud of you, Sadia.” Dad cries with a face that’s as equally wet as mine is, and I disconnect my gaze from my man.
“Thank you, Dad.”
Dad pulls me into a spine-breaking embrace as my eyes land on Chance when he reaches the small group that surrounds me.
Dad’s wet face blends with the rapid water that falls from mine.
So many feelings race through me the longer Dad holds onto me.
I feel strength and comfort in his embrace.
My lip trembles, and I close my eyes so I can take in this moment with Dad without the presence of Chance’s heavy and assessing gaze.
“Now that we have this moment out of the way, formally introduce me to this nigga who’s claiming to be your man. I told that nigga he’s a liar since I haven’t heard it directly from you.” Dad releases me as his brows hike, and a light laugh falls from my mouth.
I pull away from Dad and stand beside him as Chance walks to within an inch in front of me with a cocky grin.
I fight the urge to clench my thighs in response as I fully release Dad and curl my finger toward my man.
Not giving me a chance to speak or move, Chance pulls me into his arms, and I melt.
His cologne wafts in my nostrils, and my body heats instantly.
Dad’s hug spoke to the little girl within me longing for her mother.
But Chance’s tight embrace speaks to the woman whose man is capable of rejuvenating the neglected lover within me.
“I’m so fucking proud of you, Dia.”
Just as they did in text, Chance’s words cause my heart to leap and dance in merriment.
I cling to Chance as if I’m afraid that he’ll vanish if I release him.
The noise in the room and the people around us fade into the background as I get lost in the feel of Chance’s thumping heartbeat against me.
It’s a steady cadence that fuels and settles me.
It’s the effect I needed before my arrival.
But for countless minutes, I relish in the bubble Chance and I are in.
“I hate to break up this love fest, but can you greet the rest of us?” Alicia says, laughing.
The moment between my man and me comes to an end like a bucket of cold water has been thrown over us. I take the next few minutes to greet my people, then spend another minute or two introducing Chance to Dad. Once that’s done, I sidle up next to Chance before he connects our hands.
“Alright, everyone, I have a room booked for everyone at the Eastside Kaigood shelter house. If you can all head that way, I’ll see to it that Sadia gets there,” Chance says.
My eyes pinch as they land on Chance. “What’s going on?”
“A party, of course. I know you didn’t think you were going home after this.”
Words fail me, so I say nothing as everyone heads toward the convention center’s exit.
I didn’t have any plans for how I would celebrate post-graduation, but it looks like Chance took care of it without my knowledge.
The weird part is that no one, including Dad, protested, which makes me wonder if I’m the only one oblivious to what’s about to happen.
Unlike the congestion upon my arrival, Chance and I reach his vehicle in no time.
Once Chance assists me inside, I retrieve my phone from inside my gown and send a message to Alicia.
Me:
Did you know about this party? Why didn’t you say anything to me earlier?
Three dots appear on the screen, and a loud, unladylike snort of laughter falls from my mouth when I read Alicia’s response.
Bestie:
I’m sorry, the number you reached is currently out of service. Please check back later.
Me:
You ain’t right. Just tell me what I’m about to walk into.
Bestie:
At the subscriber’s request, this number is no longer able to process requests.
Ps. Subscriber says to trust your man *winking emoji*
“Don’t be trying to be nosy,” Chance says when he enters the vehicle a second later.
“Fine. But can you tell me if I’m the only one out of the loop? Nobody even batted an eye when you made your announcement.”
Chance shrugs before he secures his seat belt, starts his vehicle, and leaves the spot without a word.
I turn my body toward the window and cross my arms as Chance laughs.
I don’t find my dilemma funny, so I stew the whole drive to our destination.
My mind spins as I get lost in the trees and unknown buildings that fly by as we pass on the freeway.
It takes no time for Chance and me to arrive as he parks in an available spot in the lot.
There are so many cars in the lot that I’m unable to identify any one in particular.
Chance wordlessly exits and makes his way to my side, as I hold my breath when the passenger door opens, and I stare into his intense eyes.
I swallow over the sudden lump in my throat when love from Chance’s eyes hits me like a meteor.
Chance lowers to a squat, and my breath hitches as intense heat surges like lava through my body.
Only a second passes before Chance speaks.
“Before we go in here, there are some things I need to share with you. I never saw myself being here. In fact, I have been playing dodgeball with love. But since the first day I watched you brew what has become my favorite caffeinated drink, I have been wondering if maybe my winning streak had come to an end. From that first day to this present one, you have been the woman to make me concede to the possibility of falling to love’s victory. ”
I gasp when Chance’s words penetrate my psyche because I know he’s not saying what I think he is. When he continues talking, I tune in with a keener ear to see where this is going.
“For you, my offer might have seemed spontaneous. But for me, your situation presented an opportunity to give the woman who has given my heart a new rhythm and reason to beat. There will be lots of things said about you once we enter your party. However, I don’t want a single speech to be overshadowed by these: I have fallen in love with you, Sadia Richardson. ”
Oh God! He loves me. Chance is in love with me.
My mind screams as Chance’s declaration settles within me, and tears make a slow descent down my face.
“I’m going to give you time to catch up with me. But can you do me a favor?”
“Anything.” The word falls effortlessly from my lips as a smile transitions from my heart to my lips.
“I need you to fake sickness, fatigue, or something so we can get out of here. Hell, you can even fake a heart attack if it’ll be convincing enough to do the trick,” Chance says before he laughs lowly.
“Well, it depends. The last time we faked something, it led to my graduation. What do you have in mind?”
“A week-long vacation to San Juan, Puerto Rico,” Chance says.
“Hold my purse; I need to make this believable. But stay close because our exit will be quick.”
“Bet.”
Chance stands to his full height and extends his hand for me to take.
Once I’m out of the vehicle, I place my hand in his as a jolt of electricity zings up my arm.
We head toward the front door, and I remove the joy, peace, and merriment from my eyes as I mentally practice my best fake performance.
Party or no party, my man has better plans, so our first lie should definitely fuel another.
I’ll make it up to my friends and family when I return.
The End