Sorry for the delay! I know I'm usually quicker at updating, but I got a little busy. Plus I lost the whole cast when moving their lot to another neighborhood, and I got caught up in recreating them for a little while.
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Senior year had flown by so fast, and the next thing I knew, Kelli and I stood in my room getting ready for our graduation ceremony. Since I was the salutatorian of my class, I had to prepare a speech to give at the ceremony along with the valedictorian. I was going over my lines out loud one last time.



“Sounds great! You’re so smart. I can’t believe Amy Dillon got valedictorian over you, Kat.” Said Kelli.



I started to reply about how I had no hard feelings toward Amy when my bedroom door opened and a tall blonde woman walked in. Oh my goodness! … Sophia?



“Sofie!!!! What are you doing here?” I asked with my jaw hanging open in surprise.



“Are you kidding? I wouldn’t miss my little sister’s graduation,” she replied. “Especially after all that science homework you helped me with in high school.”



Sophia had rushed a sorority that year at Sim State and she and Pete were quite the item. I hadn’t seen my sister since Christmas, and she was planning to spend the summer in London taking a summer theater class, so I didn’t expect to see her for a long time.

Sophia told us all about college life. It all sounded so exciting! Kelli and I were going to be roommates next year at Le Tour and we couldn’t wait to start a new chapter in our lives.



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The graduation ceremony was held in our school gym. After we took our places, waving to our parents in the back of the gym, we had to sit through our principal’s long welcome speech. Then Amy and I said a few words, and the handing out of our diplomas finally began.



Damion had to walk behind me in order of last names. He had really distanced himself from Kelli after their breakup. He always seemed sad these days, but I couldn’t really feel sorry for him after what he had done to my best friend. Luckily, we didn’t have to speak to each other as we walked in line to the stage.



I walked on stage and shook hands with Principal Sullivan as she handed me my diploma.

“Good luck in your future Katarina,” she said.



I made it!

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The summer was especially hot that year. To escape the heat, Sean and I would take day trips to the beach that was an hour away as often as we could. The water was such a relief from the hot sun, and the waves were so relaxing that we almost forgot that in only a few weeks we’d be separated by several hundred miles.



One day in particular, we were sitting on the beach watching the tide come in after a day of shopping on the boardwalk. I knew Sean was thinking the same thing I was. We were silently clinging on to the last moments we might have together like this. The days of spending every moment with each other were coming to an end.



After spending most of the day at the beach we stood up to walk back to the car. Sean turned and hugged me instead.



We just stood there for a while staring into each other’s eyes.



“Seriously, Kat,” Sean said finally. “Stop worrying about this. This distance is only for a little while, and then you’ll come back and we can be together. I promise – and I don’t make promises I can’t keep.”

He kissed my neck and I was content with his words.



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Before I knew it, fall had come. I was all packed and ready to leave for Le Tour in the morning. Sean couldn’t see me off in the morning because he had to leave for Sim State. At least the school schedules were similar and we’d have most breaks off together. That night, Sean came to my house to say goodbye. It was late and Momma was sleeping, so I met Sean outside.

“I got you something,” Sean said, holding up a beautiful necklace. It was a locket in the shape of a heart with a diamond in the center.



“Oh Sean! It’s gorgeous!” I gasped. “I’ll think of you every time I wear this.”



I hugged him, never wanting to let go.



“I will always love you, Katarina,” he whispered into my ear.

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The next morning I hugged Momma goodbye, thinking of how only a year ago I was standing there watching Sophia leave for college.



Kelli had come to pick me up and helped me pack my things into her car. We were moving into a campus apartment, which was furnished, so I didn’t have to pack much. I told Momma I’d call her as soon as we got to our apartment, and not to worry about me. I walked to Kelli’s car, with Momma watching from the steps.



I was SO ready to leave this small town!