Chapter 3 Graduation

I wait for the man to come back every single day. I want to know how he knows my name. Is he following me? I still have the weird sensation that someone is watching me, but there's nothing out of the ordinary. I can't shake it, though, to the point that I bought pepper spray and keeping it in the basket of my bike when I cycle home after the day's work.

Graduation is soon upon me, and I look at myself in the mirror in my gown and cap, grateful that I made it all the way here.

I survived.

Group homes, and three foster placements. I made it out, luckier than most.

I'm eighteen. Legal, and no longer the state's responsibility. Soon, I'll be out of this godforsaken house too, where love definitely doesn't live.

There are no parents for me taking pictures and crying because their child is all grown up now and heading to college, no I love you's and I'm proud of you.

A tinge of sadness colors my day. Not because I miss having it, because how can you miss something that you don't know? I'm just sad because I don't even know where I come from. Who made me? What genes are these that are running through my blood? Maybe my father was like Braydon, good at maths and science and he passed that gene onto me. Or was it my mother?

And how does a mother throw her baby into the trash? Literally.

I haven't dwelled on that for a long time, but today all these questions come back tenfold. I shouldn't care. I'm officially an adult now, and whatever the woman that gave birth to me did, is none of my business anymore.

It may seem cold, but if I keep on thinking of how I came about and how I was found, I'm going to be stuck in this town and that trashcan forever.

They call my name, stating that I am valedictorian, and of my excellent academic performance throughout the years, and I'm surprised when I hear my name being hollered from the audience, a smile breaking out on my face when I look out and see Shannon there. She's waving her arms like a mad woman, shouting my name.

Someone came for me.

She had to have closed the cafe to be here. Does that mean that I matter to someone?

She's waiting for me with a single cupcake and a candle after the ceremony, her phone in her hand snapping pictures as I walk towards her.

"Happy birthday!" She exclaims, holding the cupcake out for me to blow out the candle. "I hope you made a wish!"

I smile, some happiness blooming inside me at this woman who is usually so scatter brained but who remembered today is my birthday and my graduation.

"Wow." I shake my head, looking at the red velvet cupcake, my favorite. "You came."

"Of course I came, silly!" She beams at me. "You are literally my right hand. Without you, the cafe would've folded a long time ago. And I'm proud of you, you're the smartest person in here."

"Thank you." I don't think she realizes how much her being here means to me, or how much her giving me a job when nobody else would hire a teenager did for me.

Shannon is the one person I would miss when I eventually leave. "Did you actually close the cafe?"

"No, Cindy is there by herself, so I have to run again. Don't worry about the cafe, go out and have fun with your friends tonight." She hugs me tightly to her generous chest. "I'll see you tomorrow. I'm so proud of you!"

I'm still beaming even after she runs across the football field to get to her business.

"Nevaeh?" I turn around to the sound of a friendly female voice. "You're Braydon's friend, right?"

I wouldn't say friend, but I know it's his mother, so I just nod with a smile.

"Could you take a picture with him, please?" She tilts her head to the side. "He doesn't make friends easily, and we're just so thankful that he had you over these last four years."

"Of course."

Braydon doesn't look like he wants to take pictures at all, but dutifully poses for his parents.

"So, this is it." I smile at him when they're done." What are you doing after this?"

"I'm attending the university my parents went to. They have a summer program before school officially starts. I'm leaving next week."

"Oh." Silly of me for never asking what his plans are going to be after school. "Which university?"

"Kingsveil."

"I've never heard of it." I frown, wracking my brain trying to place the name.

"It's exclusive, invitation only." He says without any emotion. "See you around, Nevaeh, thanks for lunch."

"Yeah, you too."

I watch him walk off with his parents, wondering what kind of unversity is by invite only. I know Brayden's family is well-off, but he has never flaunted his money, staying only to himself and his laptop or phone. Technology has always been more important to Braydon than people.

The house is quiet when I get home, the other two tenants still at work. This is defintely not how the other kids are spending their graduation, or their eighteenth birthday for that matter, but I make myself a sandwich and watch television because I never get the chance. Howard is always hogging the TV whenever he gets off from work.

I go to my bedroom just before Glenda returns from work, and browse social media, looking at Grace's massive graduation party her family gave her. I huff when I see the picture she posted during her speech with the caption #valedictorian. What a bluff.

I hear the people in the house when they get home, but I stay in my room and fall asleep early for once.

I wake up when I feel a slight tickle on my stomach, my eyes flying wide open when I find Howard standing over me.

Before I can react, he falls on top of me, the scream stalling in my throat when his hand clamps over my mouth.

Panic overwhelms me, the sadistic look in his eyes telling me that this time he's not playing.

It's all my fucking fault.

Because I forgot to lock the door.