Prologue

Tears over the years

I almost didn't believe it. I sat there fumbling with my tassel like a three-year old the whole time until the class valedictorian, my boyfriend, stood from his seat, smiled at me and began his way to the podium. He took a breath while still looking at me. I gave him a reassuring smile.

"Come on Peter you can do this" I thought.

He began, "Through the years many people influence us. Such as our family and friends and nothing compares to the love those people give us and help us become the person that we are today. There is one person who has saved me and motivated me to where I am today. If it wasn't for her I'd be dead."

The crowd gasped. Peter's parents looked at each other with fear and relief. Peter paused, looked at me and smiled.

"Janie Madden, my girlfriend, helped me. As everyone knows as a freshman, I wasn't the coolest kid."

The crowd laughed

"Actually I was the kid with thick ugly glasses and braces, the geek that knew everything. Well one day I was walking home from school with every textbook either in my hands or in my backpack, and I was alone, because I had no friends, not even a geek friend. Out of nowhere three bullies jumped out of the bushes. They were cussing and pushing on me. They knocked my books out of my hands and threw them in the mud. The stole my glasses and then ran off with my homework."

He paused while he wiped a tear from his eye.

"I'm sorry this is so hard to talk about"

He looked at me again and I was crying.

"I had planned to commit suicide that night. But out of nowhere I heard someone coming. I looked up and it was Janie on her bicycle. She looked so beautiful at that moment. She showed me kindness and walked me home and stole my heart. We became friends and walked home together everyday. She always teased me about being a nerd and we had a lot of fun together and finally I decided life was fun and I had friends finally and I wanted to stay here. Like I said many people change your life forever and I'm glad you showed up Janie, I love you"

He stepped down off the podium everyone clapped and everyone cried. I stood from my chair, walked on stage and wrapped my arms around him and kissed him. Time stood still.

We left the graduation and Peter and I were going to his house. I rested my head against his shoulder trying to remember the day he was talking about in his speech. I thought all the way back to my freshman year.