Epilogue
ONE YEAR LATER . . .
My vision was blurry from the tears that stung in my eyes. Rows upon rows of graduation caps bobbed above a sea of blue robes that filled the auditorium.
I blinked rapidly and rubbed at my face, praying that no one noticed. Then I felt a tap on my shoulder. I glanced over to my right. Princess was giving me a look with her laughing eyes and a knowing smile.
“You crying?” she mouthed quietly.
“No,” I shot out. “That big-ass rock on your finger is just blinding me.”
She raised her hand slowly and waved it in my face. “Oh, it’s my ring blinding you and not that your daughter is eighteen and about to graduate? Yeah, okay. You’re so funny.”
“I’m serious, baby. That thing got its own damn spotlight. You taking all the attention away from the kids. It’s supposed to be their day!” I teased.
She chuckled. Then her expression softened. “But seriously, . . . you good?”
I sat back in my seat with my eyes glued to the stage.
Three years ago, I didn’t even know I had a daughter.
Three years ago, I was just Westside Zay, a famous rapper with songs on the charts and years of platinum plaques that lined my walls.
People had to put some respect on my name when they mentioned me.
That day, I sat there fighting back emotion at my daughter’s cap and gown.
No way was I ready for her to graduate. No way could I believe that I almost missed her whole life. But there she was, front and center, proudly ready to walk across that stage as if she had known who she was since the day she was born.
“I’m good,” I finally said. “Just proud.”
We both looked down at the tiny bundle that sat in front of us when we heard the slightest noise.
Princess leaned over into our son’s seat. “Shh, baby.” She cooed as she picked our son up into her arms and rocked him side to side.
Our son.
I still couldn’t say those words without smiling.
I leaned toward her and smiled widely. “My son got something to say. Let him say it.”
She rolled her eyes at me. “It’s quiet in here right now. At least wait until everybody else starts cheering.”
I peered at him wrapped in his blanket in her arms, his little fists pressed against her chest.
“Nah, nah, I never want my kids to wait for the right time to feel their feelings,” I said quietly.
“If they have a problem with something, they need to say it right then. If they love someone, they better tell them how they feel. If they are scared, say something. Daddy don’t want them holding back on stuff and then missing out on something important because they thought it wasn’t the right time to act on it. ”
Princess just stared at me after that. She smiled in a way that didn’t feel as if she were judging me. She didn’t even seem surprised by my statement. She just looked happy. Soft.
“I hear you,” she whispered back. “But the graduation ceremony is about to start, Mr. Motivational Speaker.”
I smirked. “Baby, I’m the CEO of a recording label. I do all the motivational speaking now.”
“Yes, we know, Westside Zay. Can you please sit back?” she responded playfully.
As if on cue, the lights dimmed in the auditorium, and the announcer boomed through the speakers that the official commencement ceremony had begun. Some opening statements were said, then the graduates were announced. Cheers rose and fell. I waited patiently until her name was called.
“Ai’yana Sanai Melendez.”
Before my mind caught up to what my body was doing, I stood. “That’s my girl!” I yelled out.
Somewhere behind me, I heard someone whisper, “There’s Westside Zay. I told you he would be here.”
Fans whipped around, and cameras popped up. I didn’t care. All I could think was . . . “That’s my baby!”
My son, in Princess’s arms, kicked at the commotion and started to fuss.
She tugged on my shirt sleeve. “Okay, wow. Okay! You done embarrassed that girl enough, and now you just scared your son!”
I laughed, reached down, and reached for my son out of Princess’s arms. “Come here, little man. Come here.”
Carefully lifting him up, I sat back down in my seat and bounced him gently on my knee.
“What you scared of, Son?” I whispered. “Daddy’s here. Daddy always got you.”
Wide-eyed, he looked around at all the people and the noise around us. I kissed his head.
“I love you so much,” I said quietly. It was more for me than him.
Up on the stage, Yana beamed. With her diploma in one hand, she scanned the crowd until she spotted us. I waved ridiculously.
Princess rested one hand on my leg and waved at Yana with the other. “You did it!” she yelled proudly.
I looked at my daughter then at my son.
Then at my wife.
“Yeah,” I whispered, even though she wasn’t talking to me.
“I finally did.”