Theme: Time
Title: Late
Pairing: It should be easy enough to figure out
"Sweetie you'll be great," a mother kissed her daughter's forehead. The daughter smiled nervously, but took her place among the others. The procession began as the familiar music of Pomp and Circumstance filled the park. A large group of students filed out in perfect, practiced harmony.
"Welcome," the principal began. The diplomas handed out, the awards given, the procession was nearly finished save for one thing. Class Valedictorian. It had been announced a few days ahead of time, and caused many heads to turn even then. Everyone asked the same question: How could a student who barely attended classes make Valedictorian?
The daughter from before heard the question asked behind her back, but she didn't notice. The only thing she cared to look at was her hands, rough with many battles on the other side of an ancient well. So lost in looking at her hands, she barely heard her name called. Taking a deep breath, she stepped forward to accept the honor and give her speech.
Standing in front of all those people, she grew afraid. Her voice was already failing, and she couldn't breathe. A girl who had faced demons since she was fifteen, who had defeated a great evil, who had been taken away from the ones she loved, and still managed to make top of her class was now scared. She had never felt more alone in her life.
Taking a step to the podium she looked out amongst the impatient people, fear growing with every face she passed. Her eyes fell onto a tree off to the side of the stage. It was large with wide branches, perfect for sitting in. The leaves danced and seemed to calm her a little. Looking over the tree again, she smiled and calmed herself down, not feeling so alone anymore.
"Good Afternoon Class," she spoke with a loud clear voice. "Class. This is the last time we will ever be called that, together. Tomorrow, this will all be a memory to us. A fleeting moment, gone before anyone can catch a real grip on it. From here we strike out on our own." She took another look at the tree and with a renewed smile turned back on the class. Her speech was filled with such power and grace, such emotion that not an eye in the entire park was dry.
"If there is one thing that I have learned in my life it is never take for granted what you have, for you may not have it tomorrow. Those you love, tell them today because you may not be here to say it later," she smiled inwardly as the next words poured into her soul begging to be spoken. "After all, our mortality is what makes us undeniably human. Today may be your last day to spend with those you love. So," she paused for dramatic effect, a large smile spreading across her already smiling face. "Live like there is no tomorrow, love like it is the last day of your life, and party like the Reaper's at your door!"
A standing ovation, thunderous applause, and one girl who hadn't smiled like that since the day she was taken from them filled the area in the park. Final words spoken and caps thrown in the air marked the end of school for her. Slowly, without any notice from her peers, she made her way to the tree by the stage. She looked up, hoping that she hadn't imagined it all.
Nothing was there.
She abandoned hope and walked away, still happy to have finally gotten it all behind her. A familiar pain entered her heart as the thoughts drifted back to him, but two strong, very familiar arms erased the pain. Her heart stopped beating when she saw the rough surface and flawless claws of the hands around her waist.
"You waited," she whispered.
"No distance is long enough to keep me away when the one I love is at the other end," came the old voice she hadn't heard since junior high school. Slowly turning, her eyes came across the objects in the tree that had calmed her heart so quickly and beautifully: two perfect golden eyes. She cried, unable to hold back the tears of joy any longer.
"You're late."
