- Chapter 1
The morning of her graduation, Liz woke up in the arms of the man she loved. Well, she had not told him yet that she loved him, but she knew in her heart she did.
They spent a lovely breakfast together, and Liz kissed Harrison goodbye as she headed off to her graduation. She sent a text message to Bella so they could meet up before the ceremony, but she never received a message back.
Unfortunately for a couple hours before the ceremony Liz and the other graduates had to practice the order for receiving their diplomas and all the other specifics for the ceremony. Liz sent one last text to Bella that she would just meet up with her after the ceremony.
During rehearsal, Liz couldn’t help but think that this day would forever be something she remembered. She tried to take in every moment, and she looked around at her fellow graduates. Liz felt so much older than everyone throughout her entire time in college, but as she looked around there were people from all different age groups getting their diplomas.
Liz finally felt like her life was getting started. Not only was it getting started, she felt happier than she had ever remembered feeling in her past. She had a great guy and a great life going for her. Not only did she finally get the man of her dreams, but she also was about to have the job of her dreams and the life she had always dreamed of.
Then Liz remembered that Bella still didn’t know about her father and Liz being together. Liz decided that after the graduation she would just tell Bella. Liz wanted to be happy with Harrison and Bella would just have to be alright with it.
Bella left her dorm room and headed toward the graduation a little early. There was one stop she had to make before she got to graduation, and it was about to start within the hour. Bella had been thinking a lot about her life lately. She had watched her best friend fight so hard for this chance to graduate from college. It inspired Bella to work harder.
After Bella made her stop, she arrived at the graduation with only a few minutes to spare. She glanced at her phone and saw the text from Liz that she wanted to meet up after the ceremony, and then Bella turned her phone off as requested by the head of the graduation ceremony.
Liz wasn’t the type of person that got emotional but on that day it was something different. Liz had finally made it. After five long years of working and struggling, Liz had graduated from college.
She closed her eyes and sent a prayer up to her mother whom she knew had been watching out for her all of these years. Liz wanted her mother there more than anything else she could imagine, but Liz still felt a sense of happiness in her life.
Life was good for Liz.
In fact, Liz didn’t cry at her graduation or even when her name was called out by the announcer. Liz instead threw her arms up in the air with a scream of delight. She had done it. She had graduated from college.
The audience clapped as they enjoyed Liz’s high level of excitement. Most of the people who had received their diplomas before and after Liz had been so boring; it was fun to see someone truly excited about their graduation.
When the ceremony was over Liz took off looking for Bella. They had to leave their cell phones in lockers, so Liz didn’t really know where to meet up with Bella. She walked around the auditorium for what felt like an hour before finally running into Bella.
“Oh my god! You are a college graduate!” Bella screamed as she ran up to Liz.
“I know can you even believe it?” Liz said.
Liz was in shock. She really couldn’t believe her life as a college student was finally over. The long hours of working and studying had finally paid off. Now she could move forward with the rest of her dreams. Liz couldn’t wait to get a job in marketing and finally have the happiness she had always wanted. But there was one last thing she needed to do.
“Bella, I have something to tell you,” Liz said as she instantly changed the mood from celebratory to somber.
“Wait. Before you say whatever it is you want to say. I have a surprise for you.” Bella left Liz standing there for what seemed like an eternity.
Liz looked after where Bella had gone, but there were so many people in the stadium that she didn’t really know where Bella had gone. Liz continued to stand in the midst of all the commotion and waited for Bella to come back.
“I brought this for you,” Bella said as she moved through the crowd holding her father’s hand.
Liz didn’t know what to think. She looked at Bella and then to Harrison. They were both smiling. Liz was confused. Why was Harrison there? Why did Bella bring him? She just stood there looking at them with a blank stare on her face.
“I know you two want to be together. Life is too short for two people who care about each other not to be together.” Bella said as she took her father’s hand and put Liz and him together.
“What? I don’t know what to say.” Liz said as she continued to stare at them.
“Bella and I talked. I explained to her that you are important to me. You make me happy, and I think I make you happy. I explained that I love you.” Harrison said as he pulled Liz’s hand up to his lips and kissed it.
“Oh my god,” Liz said as she looked at two of her favorite people in the entire world.
Harrison grabbed her and dipped her down into a dramatic kiss.
“We are your family now. You will always have us both in your life.” Harrison said with a smile.
Liz couldn’t help but wrap her arms around both of them. Life did indeed seem perfect and that day would always be remembered as the start of her happily ever after ending that she had dreamed about all throughout her childhood.