Chapter 55
LACHLAN
A week before graduation, Isak pulls his truck into the parking lot of a strip mall in town and peers into the store in front of us. “This place is huge.”
“I know. I got my first one here.”
“Then I’m all in.”
We walk into the tattoo salon, which has to have space for ten or more artists to work at once. I wave at a woman with blue hair who looks vaguely like Ramona from Scott Pilgrim. I figured Isak would appreciate that.
“Oh, shit, she’s cool,” he says.
I grin. “Right?”
We greet her, sign release papers, and work out the lettering we both want.
On my right hip, along my Adonis belt, she inks “omni luci est umbra.”
When I told Isak that I wanted to get this tattoo, he asked me what it meant. “‘There is a shadow to every light.’ I’m a shadow. You’re my light,” I told him.
Yeah, he melted.
Before we leave, we each get “Dare Greatly” tattooed on our outer forearms.
It all feels right.
It’s a warm June day. I’m standing at a podium in the Royce High School football stadium in front of a sea of faces.
The ones in caps and gowns are mostly familiar.
In the stands—well, I can pick out a few people I know.
Like Rochelle. Ivy, holding Q, and Grandma.
Mom’s in rehab, so she’s missing my speech, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
There’s some feedback as I say, “Hello,” so I adjust the mic and start again. “Good afternoon, everyone. I’m senior class president Lachlan Doyle, and I want to talk about courage.”
Since the administration let us choose where we wanted to sit, and I both had to give a speech and wanted to sit by Isak, he’s in the front row, to the side.
Easy to pick out. He’s smiling brightly at me, encouraging me.
His dark hair is smushed under his cap, and he looks amazing.
Zanita is next to him, Malik by her. They’re all smiles and holding hands.
“In English class this year, we discussed what it means to be brave and why we appreciate courage. I think the bottom line is that courage is being scared and doing what you need to do anyway, which can make the difference between living the life you’re meant to live …
or living one that is dictated by others. ”
I peer out at the crowd. Some people are nodding, others are holding up phones and recording. I share the Teddy Roosevelt quote that Isak told me about and talk about other people who dared greatly before wrapping things up.
“As we leave Royce High, we all have different paths. Some of us are headed to college or technical school. Others are joining the military. Some of us have jobs or other plans. But I want to encourage each one of you to think about what you’re doing and whether it’s your idea or if it’s being dictated by someone else.
And if it is someone else’s, I hope you have the courage to consider doing whatever you actually want to do. ”
Vince whistles, and I laugh and keep going.
“As far as we know, we have only one life. You can live it on your own terms, or you can live it trying to please other people. The thing is, living someone else’s goals is never going to work.
You cannot mold yourself into a person someone else will find acceptable in every way—not and truly be alive.
So as we graduate, I want to challenge everyone here to dare greatly.
Consider the needs of others, yes, but be yourself.
Think about what you really want to do, and pursue it, especially if it will serve a greater good. Thank you.”
As the audience applauds, I make my way off the stage and collapse next to Isak. He squeezes my hand. “Good job, babe. You did it. Congratulations.”
“Thanks. And congrats to you, too.”
Twenty minutes later, we’re both holding folders that our diplomas will go in. We’ve graduated.
As they say, it’s the first day of the rest of our lives.
And somehow, I get to face it with the love of my life by my side.