It's the end. I know it wasn't very long, but it's the end of something that should have been finished a long time ago.
Enjoy! (:
"Okay everyone," Amanda Cross, the head manager, instructed, "be quiet, okay? The guests are about to arrive, okay?"
Dylan turned to Mia, whom she had become good friends with and silently mouthed okay, mocking the manager's excessive use of the word. Mia giggled quietly into her hand, concealing her mouth with her palm so Amanda wouldn't yell at her.
"Okay, what is so funny?" Amanda shot a stern look at Dylan and Mia, which caused them to burst into another fit of laughter.
The entire group sat in large cushy black chairs lined in a row against the back wall of the stage. A thick velvety red curtain hung in front of them, and soon they began to hear faint murmurs seeping in through the bottom of the drapes of audience beginning to arrive. A familiar tinkling laughter filled the air, and Dylan felt her stomach contract. Merri-Lee Marvil. Mia saw Dylan's smile drop and draped an arm around her shoulders.
"You okay, Dylan?" she asked, smiling at her use of the word okay.
"Yeah, yeah, I'll be fine," Dylan responded with a forced smile.
She stood up from her seat and tiptoed to the edge of the curtain and peeked out from the side. The auditorium was filled, ranging from grandmothers in wheelchairs to infants, crying and whining. Dylan scanned the audience and felt her head begin to spin. Why had she thought she could handle this? There were so many people. So many people she knew. Allison Delaney, the president of the rehabilitation clinic, began to walk up to the podium, shoes clicking, as the lights dimmed.
"Welcome everyone. You're all here to witness a special day. I say this every time we hold an Honors ceremony because the truth is, every time is really a special day. These young adults have changed so much since arriving here and today you'll be the first ones to observe the transformation. We'll start with a guest speaker, an alumni from Westchester Rehabilitation, one of our very own, Carrie Smith. Please give a round of applause for Ms. Smith."
A young woman, no older than twenty five, rose from the black VIP box and stepped towards the microphone.
"I'm going to make this short because it's not very difficult to understand. The staff and therapist here at Westchester Rehab Center are probably the bravest people you will ever meet. They work their hardest every day to make a difference in these children's lives, and whether they are successful or not, they don't give up. They were the change in my life, and they were the change for them. Never forget them, because they will never forget you," Carrie said, eyes filling with tears. She quickly wiped them away with a flick of her finger and continued, "Please welcome this years' graduates."
A round of applause followed and Carrie took a seat.
"Each time we have this ceremony, we choose someone—someone who has worked their very hardest to fight against their eating disorders—to give a little speech. Whether it be about their experience here at Westchester Rehab, or an excerpt on how life has taken a turn for them, this speech is truly inspiring. Let's give a warm welcome and the spotlight to… Dylan Marvil," Allison beamed at Dylan.
Dylan's heart jolted. What? They thought Dylan Marvil—out of all the patients—had worked the hardest? Had improved the most? Mia squeezed her shoulder and gave her an encouraging grin.
She worked her way slowly to the center of the stage, feeling more or less embarrassed have people stare at her. Looking down at the hundreds of eyes gaze up at her, she inhaled sharply. Who was here? Oh yes, the Briarwood boys in the left corner. Her mother, her sisters, and who was that? Massie Block? Alicia? Kristen and Claire? A wave of panic swept over her. Even so, she was determined to finish strong.
"I haven't been here for very long, but let me tell you something, the Westchester Rehabilitation Clinic isn't that clinic you see on TV, where all the clients get their money conned out of them. Everyone at Westchester Rehab cares about you. They want to make you stronger, prepare you for the harsh world outside. The world isn't a box of chocolates and rainbow bunnies. You should see girls at schools these days. They tear even their closest friends up. At one point, every single girl is a victim. It's like war out there. Westchester Rehab knows that. They help you in every single aspect. Before I came here, I was someone not even I wanted to be associated with. Now, I stand here, someone I'm proud to have become. I can say, 'I'm Dylan Marvil, and I fought an eating disorder.' I can say, 'I'm Dylan Marvil, and I don't care if I wear a size 6 because I look good.' Most of all, I'm proud to be Dylan Marvil. I want to apologize for everything I've done, and you know who I'm talking to. Westchester Rehabilitation Clinic has taught me so many important life lessons that I'll never forget. Thank you everyone!" Dylan finished.
The applause was deafening. The crowd was on their feet before the last word. Whistles, cat calls, hoots. Dylan smiled into the crowd.
The loudest people in the crowd, Dylan noted, were the people she thought she didn't need in her life.
Massie, Alicia, Kristen, and Claire were standing on chairs, jumping up and down screaming until they were red in the face. Her mother was smiling broadly, and telling anyone who happened to listen, "that's my baby girl!" The soccer boys were whistling, giving her a thumbs up, cheering her on.
Everyone had always been there for her. Even her mother, even if not all of the time, was there now, rooting for Dylan, tears filling her eyes.
Dylan's biggest support team was her friends and family, she just hadn't realized it until now.
The old Dylan wouldn't have wanted to recognize the emotions she was having. The old Dylan would have pushed it away.
The new Dylan knew the exact word to capture the feeling. Love.
And there you have it.
I'm writing something new soon.
Watch for it!
Finished 6/30/08.