YEAR : 1997
Frost-spikes hung off the window sill like a phantom's glassy fingers. The sweet smell of Christmas ghosts through the room, mixing with the cinnamon scents. Macie stared down at her street, each house covered in a blanket of thick white snow, with the faint sight of Christmas lights and decorations peeking out from under their snowcaps.
Macie gazed down the street, the world a moonscape of white. It was Christmas, her favourite time of the year, yet her mind kept drifting to the fact she would be graduating from Chilton in a few short months. It felt as though Jack Frost's fangs have bitten deep into the flesh and blood of her aura, leaving it clay-cold and drained.
Macie had visited Stars Hallow yesterday for Christmas Eve lunch with herself and her brothers, Matt and Ben. Matt, her eldest brother, had completed his aviation degree and now Navy Seal training of 30 months just last month and Macie was dreading his assignment to a unit next February. Ben was still at Yale, completing his double degree in Aviation and Business and came to visit Macie as often as he could. Yet, Macie knew that his desire to be in the armed forces with his brother and father would ultimately take him from her for months as well and she just had to accept that.
Christmas Eve had been a perfect day, with Macie spending it with Lorelai, Rory, Sookie, Luke and the many other colourful characters of Stars Hollow she'd come to love over the last six years. She'd performed under the gazebo with the rest of the young aspiring dancers for Ms Patty's annual Christmas performance, despite the fact she would be turning seventeen in March. She'd had her own dance school closer to home but always performed in Ms Patty's recitals since the summer she moved to Connecticut.
Her pup snored as he rested in the crevasses of her pillows. Macie smiled at the sight, her mind temporarily freeing her from the raging thoughts about school consuming it.
She stared at the picture frame on her bedside, it's sparkling glass catching her attention as it gleamed in the winter sunlight, which was refracting off the other pictures frames on her own beside and casting spotlights on the ivory cream walls. It was herself, Lorelai and Rory at her 16th Birthday earlier this year, each with their matching blue eyes and chocolate brown hair. Lorelai always joked about being related... in fact felt as close as sisters. Yet, they weren't connected by blood, just an unbreakable bond of friendship.
She crept downstairs into the living room, covering herself with a knit blanket as she stared into the fire. It crackled and spat before hissing into life magically. Its radiant light stole away the velvet-black shadows dancing on the wall as flames of rainbow-orange licked hungrily at the chimney.
Macie turned to gleam up at the Christmas tree content. It was beautiful. The tree flashed and flickered with dazzling lights. A glowing star perched on the top, glittering with its flash-silver lustre. A single candle twinkled merrily in the window. The star-flash of tinsel glittering brightly, the bright white morning sunshine reflecting off it. The old and beloved ornaments, complemented by a cascading array of indigo and silver ones. The scatter piles of presents beneath wrapped in glistening papers and ribbons. Whilst the five stockings on the fireplace mantel hung full of surprises.
Yet, the beauty of Christmas couldn't rid the horrid thoughts consuming the young girl's mind. She was worried about finishing school at Chilton in the next few months. She worried she wouldn't get into to Medical School, no matter what she told herself. She wished she had more time to prepare... but she didn't and no matter what anyone told her she didn't believe she'd get in.
"Merry Christmas, darling," Nydia whispered, tying her cream dressing gown as she wandered into the living room.
"Joyeux Noël," Macie smiled faintly. Nydia embraced her daughter tightly as she sat beside her.
"Joyeux Noël, Rosie," Nydia replied, kissing her daughter's forehead. "Je t'aime beaucoup!"
Macie nestled herself into her mother's chest comfortingly, "Je t'aime plus," Macie mumbled as Nydia rubbed her back, knowing the stress she'd been under lately with her final exams and Med school applications.
Nydia furrowed her brows with unease, "Macie? We talked about this..." Nydia lifted her daughter's chin from her chest. "You're going to be fine... I promise." She reassured her daughter, "Nothing can stop you from achieving your dream, darling."
Macie just shook her head, refusing to respond to her mother's comforting words. The young girl took a deep breath, resting her head on Nydia's shoulder, "I'm just worried." She said simply, sighing anxiously.
"I know you are, Macie," Nydia replied, holding her daughter's hand firmly. "You know that your father and I have always wanted the best for you." The young mother embraced her daughter tightly, as her husband wandered sleepily into the room.
"Thank you," She whispered, smiling up at her mother, "I love you so much."
"What about me?" Scott complained, pretending to be hurt as he made his way towards the couch.
Macie giggled, "I love you too daddy," She replied, hugging him tightly as he sat beside her.
"Merry Christmas, princess," Scott cooed, kissing his daughter's hair as they listened to the fireplace crackle. "I'm so proud of you, no matter what happens."
Macie just nodded, resting in her father's embrace silently, as they waited for her brothers to wake from their deep slumbers. Christmas turned out to be a huge success, with Macie spending the day with her cousins and much to her enjoyment Lorelai and Rory also spent the day over. Macie's raging thoughts had also ceased much to her delight. It was her perfect Christmas.
The dawn sky was a blood orange surge, hinting at the arrival of summer. The soft sound of chorusing bees and woodland creatures filled the morning air. It was another beautiful blossoming day. Macie supposed that Chilton would be hot and leafy, its flower beds and gardens a riot of colour when she arrived there that afternoon for graduation, though the thought only filled Macie with nerves.
Her brothers drove her to Chilton that afternoon with her parents, Lorelai and Rory meeting them there. Though, she'd barely been able to greet them when Headmaster Charleston had pulled her away to prepare for the celebration.
The rest of the students took their seats excitedly, waiting for their graduation ceremony to commence. Headmaster Charleston cleared his throat, looking into the crowds of students from the class of 1998. Their friends and families eagerly filling the rows across from their graduating children.
"It is a distinct pleasure for me to introduce to you our Valedictorian. This lady was a transfer student from London, beginning her Chilton journey at the age of eleven, where she distinguished herself immeasurably. She is humble, hardworking, compassionate and unparalleled in her academic achievements. This incredible student has been accepted to the Universtiy of Oxford, to study a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery."
"Ladies and Gentleman, Margaret Rose Gray." Headmaster Charleston announced, causing the crowd to erupt in cheers as Macie ascend the stairs to the stage.
Macie took a depth breath as she stared into the crowd of her fellow classmates.
"Headmaster Charleston, faculty members, fellow students, family and friends, welcome. We never thought this day would come. We prayed for its quick delivery, crossed days off our calendars, counted hours, minutes and seconds and now that it's here, I'm sorry it is, because it means leaving friends who inspire me and teachers who've been my mentors, so many people who've shaped my life, and my fellow students lives impermeably and forever.
I live in two worlds. One is a world of books. I've been a resident of Faulkner's Yoknapatawpha County, hunted the white whale aboard the Pequod, fought alongside Napoleon, sailed a raft with Huck and Jim, committed absurdities with Ignatius J. Reilly, rode a sad train with Anna Karenina and strolled down Swann's Way.
It's a rewarding world, but my second one is by far superior. My second one is populated with characters slightly less eccentric, but supremely real, made of flesh and bone, full of love, who are my ultimate inspiration for everything.
Matthew and Benjamin Gray are kind, decent, clever and unfailingly entertaining people. They are my twin pillars, without whom I could not stand. I am proud to be their little sister and could never thank them enough for everything they have done for me. They are extremely caring people whom I look to every day.
Lorelai and Rory Gilmore are my best friends, the dazzling women who have without fail always made me smile. They are kind, funny and loving people, that I am proud to know. You have made these past six years the most entertaining and colour I've experienced and I can't thank you enough.
But, my ultimate inspiration, is my parents, Nydia and Scott Gray. My father has always protected me, showed me the meaning of love, filled my life with sport and family. He taught my brothers and I so much and I am extremely proud and privileged to be his daughter. Dad: you are honourable and incredible and word can't express how much I love you.
My mother never gave me any idea that I couldn't do whatever I wanted to do or be whomever I wanted to be. She filled our house with love, fun, language, books and music, unflagging in her efforts to give me role models from Jane Austen to Eudora Welty to Patti Smith. As she guided me through these incredible seventeen years, I don't know if she ever realized that the person I most wanted to be was her. Thank you, Mum: you are my guidepost for everything."
Macie smiled wildly as she descended the stage stairs returning to her seat with the rest of her Chilton classmates, who were cheering loudly. She collected her certificate when her name was called for the second time, smiling at her family as she moved the tassel to the opposite side.
Translation:
Joyeux Noël - Merry Christmas
Joyeux Noël, Macie. Je t'aime beaucoup - Merry Christmas Macie. I love you very much.
Je t'aime plus - I love you more.
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