I told myself this over and over in my head but what did I do? I cried. Warm tears rolled down my cheeks during almost the whole thing. The video, the speeches, the certificates being handed out. Did I cry the WHOLE time? No. I had to stop for a second to let myself wipe off the tears. Although I cried a lot tonight I keep asking myself, "when did you really break?" I now know. It when she took the stage. The glow. No. My glow.
"Hello," she said. BAM. Tears started. It didn't matter what she said. She didn't have to say much at all for me. She could have just got up there and pronounced a list of profanities and I probably would have cried the same as I did tonight. It wasn't the beautiful speech she prepared, it was the look in her eyes as she faced us. She was crying on the inside before she even spoke one word. I was too. I knew this day meant it was almost over. She and I would go separate ways. Sure, "it isn't goodbye for us," but all I wanted to know was when could I say, "hello," to her again. Not only to her. To them all--but mostly her. I could feel it. My neighbors eyes bearing through my skin as they pondered over why I cried so hard. They tried to act like they didn't look. HA! That's like saying, "I didn't rob that bank," while holding a backpack full of money, wearing a ski mask, and climbing out of the back window of the recently robbed building. I cried at the thought of not having her to see and talk to every day, I cried in fear of losing that light.
I don't want my light to burn out.
Can we just go back like, press and rewind?
That light is the only thing that keeps me smiling every morning.
My light. She is my teacher, my role model, my motivation. She goes by Nicole Eakle but I like to call her my best friend.
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