Page 10 (1/2)

"I know this is hard for you, but if you need anything, please let me know," she whispered

"Thank you, Hailey"

I continued to ed and kissed to death I grabbed a plate and walked over to where the buffet was set up "Happy birthday, sis," Collin said as he put his arm around me and kissedout at Central Park" He smiled

"Yeah,ht without London here We had a nice breakfast with conversation, laughter, and good food After breakfast was finished, everybody went horaduation ceremony I was onroom My mom had her hands behind her back with a smile on her face

"Happy birthday, sweetheart" She sive this to you now instead of at the party tonight"

I sat down on the couch in between my parents and slowly lifted the lid Inside sat a beautiful dia and I loved it

"Mom, Dad," I said as I looked at it with tears inin our fa that represents us as a faone and know that our love for you is forever, even e’re not here," ged thelad you like it, Princess Your ht it would be the start of a tradition You can pass it on to your daughter when she’s eighteen"

"What if I don’t have a daughter?"

"Well, let’s hope you do" He sraduation cereoing to college in the fall I put on th raduation cap on my head There was a soft knock on door and my mom peeked her head in

"Do you need any help?" she asked

"No I think I got it"

She stepped intoirl is graduating It seems like it was only yesterday that I took you to your first day of preschool"

"You’re going to h the oes by so fast, Julia It’s ihtened my cap and patted my shoulders She walked out of the rooraduating high school It’s aet your first day of kindergarten" He smiled

I turned around as he sat down on the bed "I had o"

"That’s right" He smiled as he reached for my hand and asked me to sit down "You were so scared and you held onto ed you not to leave me" I smiled

"And I didn’t I promised you that I wouldn’t leave, so I sat in the back of the classroo in the audience, ht when you accept London’s diploive your speech"

The tears I tried so hard to hold back started to fall My dad reached over and gently wiped theer "No tears, baby You’ll ruin your makeup"

"Thanks, Dad," I said as I laid my head on his shoulder

As I stood at the podium and looked at my notes, I looked out into the audience and sawin the second row My ave me a thumbs up I was nervous and started to sweat I folded the white piece of paper I had in ripped the sides of the podiuan to speak into the microphone I spoke about the last four years, London, and her death I could hear the sounds of sniffling as I talked about what an a student and person London was A tear fell fro state ovation, not only forwon the art competition and I was the recipient of a 15,000 scholarship to Colue and took my seat with my fellow classmates as they wiped their tears It was time for the distribution of diplomas and when London’s nae and accepted her diploma for her I kissed it and held it up the air, with the hope that she was looking down and could see it Once the ceremony was over, I met edfroo and ed me and told me that he was proud that I was his sister After I ed my entire family, Mason walked over toup on that stage I’htly and had a full breakdown

I looked at my dad and he rolled his eyes He tapped my mom on the shoulder and pointed to Uncle Mason My mom turned around and smiled at me as she clasped his shoulders and broke our eht to the Astoria for uests that showed up, including family and friends from school The room was decorated with balloons in pink and lavender, my two favorite colors Beautiful candle lit, floral centerpieces sat in the middle of each table There was a DJ, and a table that sat in the corner with a birthday cake that representedaddiction and tiers upon tiers of beautiful flowered cupcakes I took in a deep breath as I put onMy mom ran over to me

"Here comes your dad I know that look on his face and it’s about your dress I’hed

My dad walked over to me and kissed me on the cheek as he put his hand on the seous Did you pick out that dress yourself?"

"Thank you, Daddy, and yes, I did Isn’t it the most beautiful dress you’ve ever seen? I love it so much, and I feel like such a princess in it Tellon the innocent act forme that my dress ay too short He looked at me, paused, and then smiled "It’s beautiful, Julia, and it looks wonderful on you"