Chapter 23

May 2036. This was it. We had 3 weeks left of school, and we were going to graduate the week after. I kept having really bad headaches from time to time but there was no way I was missing anymore school. I refused. School life was never in my mind growing up as a kid, because I always thought I'd skip it and go straight to the Academy when I was seven. That didn't happen of course, and I'm forever grateful. Despite the twists and turns we had I made it here. Finals were coming up and then that would be the end of it. A couple of my classmates were already talking about college, and future careers. I wanted to tell the mine, but I kept my mouth shut.

With the yearbook finally finished my grade met in the gym for yearbook signings. I never realized how many people wanted me to sign their yearbooks until they came up to me. Of course Deanna signed my book first. It read:

"To my sister, I've never had more fun, you are the sweetest and smartest and prettiest girl I know, never change, all my love Deanna, 'Dee.'"

Charlie signed second and I asked him specifically to sign it to Rocky. His note read:

"Hey Rocky, looks like your a diamond now, I'll love you forever my queen, love King Charles."

I smiled at their notes. I wrote in Deanna's yearbook a note that read:

"Dee, you are way smarter and prettier than you give yourself credit for, I owe you my life, sisters forever, love Har."

In Charlie's I wrote:

"Charles John LeMay, what can I say except I hope to share your name one day, I love you sweetie, Queen Harmione Kay"

Charlie kissed the side of my head. We all sat in the bleachers and signed other people's year books. There were lots of people I didn't even know. Sierra walked up to Deanna with her yearbook open.

"Deanna Mackenzie, can you sign my book?"

"Of course Sierra Elizabeth." She replied with a smirk. Calling each other by their middle names was like a compliment now; or a term of endearment.

"You can sign too Tennyson."

I smiled as I finished signing someone else's book. I pulled my brown curly hair behind my ears and touched the back of my head. It began to hurt.

"There you go Sierra, here Harmione."

I quickly took the book and wrote:

"To Sierra,"

I stopped and touched my head again.

"Har, you okay?" Deanna asked.

"Yeah...just thinking about what to write."

I tried to shake my pain away, but it wasn't going away. I closed my eyes for a moment and slowly opened them. Sierra's book fell from my lap, and the pen for from my hand.

"Harmione!" Sierra shouted.

"Har!" Deanna exclaimed.

I held my head in my hands.

"Char...Charlie...take me to the nurse."

Charlie quickly stopped what he was doing, and escorted me out of the gym. He held my arm as we walked down the hall. My breathing became really irregular. I whimpered and stopped.

"Harmione, are you alright?"

"I...I can't walk anymore Charlie."

"Here."

He kneeled for me to get on his back, and piggyback me down the hall.

"I can't jump either."

He stood up and put my arms around his neck.

"Hold on to me okay."

He wrapped his arms around the bend in my knees and carried me bridal style down the hall. When he got me to the nurse, she ordered him to put me on the bed she had in her office. I groaned and suddenly had a seizure. Charlie got on his knee and rolled me over on my side. The nurse called 911.

"Don't bite your tongue Har." He told me and stroked my bottom lip. Blood began to leak out of my mouth, from me biting my tongue. I couldn't help it or the muscle contractions. I squirmed and kicked. Charlie just stroked the side of my face. I began to scream inaudible sounds and words. I squealed and shook uncontrollably. Charlie felt my pain a thousand times more all over his body as he stared at me. I was once again taken to the hospital only this time, I had to undergo surgery to remove part of my skull to relieve intracranial pressure on my brain. Once that was done, they repaired the source of the swelling. I had internal swelling and it had no place to go. I was stuck in the hospital again for another week while I healed. I did get to go to graduation; only I was wheelchair bound.

Kim, Adam, Jaynie, Frankie, Irene, Lacey, Deanna and Charlie, all took a picture with me in the wheelchair. Deanna and I cried and we looked awful in our picture. Charlie kneeled down beside me and took a picture with me. My family made it to my graduation as well. I got to see my great grandmother Verdona, and my great grandfather Max.

"I'm real proud of you pumpkin." Max said.

"Thanks Grampa."

"I knew you had it in ya, kiddo." Verdona replied after.

"Thanks Grandma...it means a lot."

My cousin Gensis was 13 years old now, soon she'd be starting high school. We took a picture together. She really does look like my cousin Gwen, but she acts more like my cousin Kevin.

My brothers screamed the loudest for me when I got my diploma. They each sat in my lap and took pictures with me. Of all the people there, Mom and Dad were the most proud. Especially Dad.

"Harmione, babygirl, I just want to say you'll always be that same little girl that was always there when I would turn around...you'll always be my first baby, and my daughter...you have no idea what I've done for you...just so you could live the way you do...the way your life started out, I just never saw you here, you know...and seeing you in that wheelchair almost makes my nightmares seem more realistic but...you are so strong Harmione...just like your mother...and I'm so proud of you Angel."

Dad hugged me tightly. I embraced the hug, and cried into his shoulder.

"I love you Daddy."

"I love you too Harmione."

He kissed my cheek, and mom got down on her knees in front of me.

"You've charmed our lives in more ways than one."

"Yeah..." Dad choked out and turned away. Mom put her hand on top of mine.

"You have been through so much, and yet you faced the world everyday with your beautiful smile, you were determined to have a good day everyday no matter what happened, you are so special Harmione, your father and I hoped that despite the hardships and the ever growing darkness over you, your life would be charming...and it wasn't me or your Dad that made it so...you did that with your courage, your kindness, and your love...I wish I could've been like you at your age...you are strong Harmione...and I'm just so proud of the woman I see before me today, but please just remember I'll always see that chubby little sausage that came out of me that day."

Mom quickly hugged me and could no longer fight back the tears. She sobbed into the embrace and held me tighter. I cried too. It normally takes a lot to make me cry, but every time I do I can't stop. I was truly blessed. I did feel charmed. I had such a charming life.