Disclaimer: I do not own these characters.
"Memory is a way of holding onto the things you love,
the things you are,
the things you never want to lose."
May 23, 2007. Seattle, Washington.
Today is the big day. The day I have been waiting for to arrive for 22 years. I was finally graduating from Seattle University. And if luck is on my side, I would be engaged by the end of the night.
My life is perfect. I have the most wonderful boyfriend anyone could ask for. I'm valedictorian of my entire senior class. And I'm planning on moving to New York City next week with my hopefully soon-to-be fiance to start my internship at Paper Garden Records. It's the biggest record label in NYC at the moment, and I'm so grateful to even be in their presence.
I slid into the driver's seat of my Volkswagen Jetta and started the engine. I felt my phone vibrate in my jacket pocket and I reached my hand inside to retrieve it.
2 hours until we will never be called students again. I am so proud of you and so ready to hear your speech. I love you, Izzie Swan. Don't be late.
I smiled at the surprise text and at the way he knew that I was always late to everything.
I swear you are the only person on earth to call me Izzie. I love you until the end of time.
I pressed send and slid the phone back into my pocket. I looked in my rear view mirror to see the bright blue cap and gown hanging from the backseat ceiling handle. I was feeling giddy, just like I had on the night of my high school graduation. I was still in love with the same boy. And I was still valedictorian.
I pulled my car out of the driveway and began my drive toward the university. I was running late, of course. I had sat at the bottom of my closet for what seemed like hours, searching for just the right pumps for tonight. I was searching for my favorite black ones, but I couldn't find them anywhere. They were little booties with a golden zipper on the side. I live with my boyfriend and his sister, who is my best friend, and who is also a fashionista. I was prepared to rummage through her closet, but as I caught glimpse of the clock in the living room, I figured I shouldn't be too late for my own speech.
It was only 7pm and it was already pitch black. Washington weather was the weirdest. And it definitely didn't help that it was raining nonstop for days in the middle of May. Even though I was born and raised here, I never got used to it. I hated the gloomy, rainy days that we routinely had.
As I drove closer, I got more and more nervous. Would I trip on stage? Would I knock my hat off my head? Would I fuck up my speech? Oh shit, my speech!
Instinctively, I let go of the wheel to reach for my purse, which was located on the floor in front of the passenger seat. I ducked my head down and lifted it up onto my lap.
Just as I raised my head to look at the road in front of me, I was blinded by headlights.
And just like that, my memory was erased forever.
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xoxo, ptl