"Marcella?" Maya's voice rings out followed by a series of knocks and I pause towel-drying my hair as I make my way to the living room in just a robe. "Marcy!" She calls out, knocking again and I swing the door open. "Oh my God, are you okay?" She asks as she rushes in and swallows me up in a tight hug. "Umm..... it's nice to see you too Maya." I say tentatively as I pat her back in a confused way of returning the hug. "What's going on?" I ask when the hug is over and Maya's sad eyes squint at me like I've grown two heads. "You're asking me what's going on? Marcy a phone call to your best friend wouldn't hurt, you know." She says and I scoff. "What are you talking about? We spoke last month on the phone." I say with a shrug and head back to my room with Maya hot on my heels. "Exactly. Last month. When I call

Marcy's POV   "We are honored to call the valedictorian of class 2019, Tyler Jensen." The vice-chancellor calls out Tyler's name from the podium and I have to remind myself not to scream out of excitement as I watch Tyler climb the stage to get his degree and qualifying certificate along with a handshake. He finally did it, and valedictorian no less. After everything we've been through, if anyone ever told me we would eventually make it to this day.... and style would be graduating from college as valedictorian of his set, I would have laughed till I couldn't breathe. Maybe even cry. But here we are.   "Is there anything you would like to say to your convoking class?" The Vice-Chancellor asks and Tyler nods, before taking the vacant podium. As I watch him, standing there in his robe and cap, a warm feeling envelops me and I realize I have never been more proud of anyone than I a