The day had finally arrived—Hayes's graduation day. His heart swelled with excitement, pride, and a deep sense of accomplishment. He had worked so hard for this moment, and it was everything he had imagined. But as he stood there in his cap and gown, a bittersweet ache tugged at his chest. Zelda should have been by his side. She was always his biggest supporter, always the one cheering him on, but today, she was absent.
She had been so focused on her studies, pushing herself relentlessly toward her goal of graduating early. The last few months had been a whirlwind, and though he understood why she was doing it, a part of him couldn't help but feel the emptiness of her absence on such an important day. Hayes knew she loved him, but this was their moment, one they had always envisioned sharing together. The quiet sting of her absence cut deeper as the ceremony went on.
Hayes stood with his friends, smiling and laughing with them, but the truth was, his mind kept wandering to Zelda. He missed her presence—the way she could light up any room, how her laughter was the perfect soundtrack to any moment, how she always knew just what to say to calm him when his nerves got the best of him.
As he walked across the stage to receive his diploma, his eyes scanned the crowd. He had hoped, foolishly perhaps, that she'd surprise him. That she'd somehow make it, that maybe she'd found a way to be there for him, to witness this milestone in his life. But there was no sign of her. It was just him, his family, his friends, and the weight of an empty seat beside him.
Later, as the ceremony wound down and the celebrations began, Hayes felt a pang of loneliness. He tried to keep his spirits up, accepting congratulations from his family and friends, but the absence of Zelda—a constant in his life for so long—was a stark reminder that things had changed. He forced a smile, exchanging pleasantries with everyone around him, but the emptiness of the moment gnawed at him.
As he sat at a table with his friends, trying to enjoy the festivities, his phone buzzed. He glanced at it, hoping it was a message from her. Sure enough, it was Zelda, sending a simple text:
[I'm so proud of you, Hayes. I know this day means a lot to you, and I wish I could be there. I'm cheering you on from here.]
Hayes stared at the message for a moment, feeling the sting of her absence deepen. He couldn't stay upset at her—he knew how much she had sacrificed to make her plans work, how much she had been pushing herself. But the sadness lingered, a knot in his chest.
He quickly typed a reply, his fingers trembling slightly.
[I miss you. I wish you were here. I've been waiting for this day to share it with you.]
He hesitated before hitting send, his heart heavy. The phone buzzed again almost instantly.
[I'll make it up to you, I promise. We'll celebrate together, I swear.]
A small smile tugged at Hayes's lips. He knew Zelda would make it up to him, just as she always did. And even though the day had felt incomplete without her by his side, he knew that their bond was unbreakable. Their future was still ahead of them, and that was what mattered.
After a few more moments of silence, Hayes stood up from the table, excusing himself from his friends. He stepped outside, finding a quiet spot away from the noise of the celebration. He pulled out his phone again, his fingers hesitating before he dialed her number.
The call rang a few times before Zelda's voice filled his ear. It sounded a bit hushed, but Hayes dismissed it as her usual busyness.
"Hayes?" Her voice was soft, distant. He could tell she was tired, but there was something else in her voice too—guilt? Worry?
"Zelda, you okay?" he asked, his voice tinged with concern. It wasn't like her to sound so off.
"I'm fine, I just..." She sighed, and he could almost picture her running her hands through her hair. "I wanted to be there; you know? I wanted to see you walk across that stage. But there's just so much going on, and I feel like I'm missing out on everything."
Hayes smiled softly, his heart aching for her. "I know. But I get it, Z. You've been working hard. You've got your own goals, your future to think about. And I'm so proud of you for that. But... I miss you, too. A lot."
"I miss you too. So much, Hayes. But I'll make it up to you. I promise. Once this semester is over, I'm all yours. We'll have our time, okay?" she promised earnestly.
"Sounds like a plan," Hayes replied, his voice thick with emotion. "I love you, Zelda."
"I love you too, Hayes. More than you'll ever know."
As the call ended, Hayes felt a wave of relief wash over him. The day hadn't gone as planned, but in the end, it wasn't about the ceremony or the celebration. It was about the future they'd be building together. The love they shared was far more important than any event, and he knew that no matter where they were or how busy life got, they would always find their way back to each other.
And for that, Hayes was willing to wait.
As the ceremony continued and other students received their diplomas, Hayes sat quietly, processing the emotions of the moment—proud, relieved, but also feeling a bit empty without Zelda beside him. He was still trying to shake off the quiet ache in his chest when the name he never expected to hear rang out across the speakers.
"Zelda Phillips."
Hayes's heart stopped for a beat. His eyes shot to the stage, as if hoping to confirm that he had heard it wrong. But there she was—Zelda—walking across the stage, as calm and poised as ever, the very image of determination. It was a moment that took his breath away.
Zelda Phillips? Zelda's graduating?
He could barely believe it. He had always known she was brilliant, but to pull off an early graduation without him knowing? That was something else entirely. His heart swelled with pride as she reached the podium, the audience applauding, her diploma now in hand. Hayes couldn't help but stand up, clapping and cheering louder than anyone else, his chest full of admiration for her strength and perseverance.
When she returned to her seat, Hayes couldn't take his eyes off her. She caught his gaze and, for just a moment, a small, triumphant smile played on her lips.
He stood up, his voice thick with disbelief and pride. "You—" he started, his mind racing, but the words caught in his throat.
Zelda simply leaned in, her voice full of playful confidence. "Surprise," she whispered.
"I didn't—how did you—" Hayes stammered, completely overwhelmed by this unexpected turn of events.
Zelda chuckled softly, taking his hand in hers. "I've been working hard, Hayes. And I wasn't about to let you have all the fun. But hey, I figured this way, you'd get a little more of me than you thought."
The weight of her absence earlier seemed to dissolve in an instant, replaced by the joy of seeing her in the same moment of victory. They were in this together, after all.
The rest of the ceremony passed by in a blur, and soon, the crowd was gathering for the celebration. Hayes's friends surrounded him, congratulating him, but a part of him was still floating from the shock of the day. Zelda had made it happen.
"Okay," she said, her smile turning into a grin. "Now comes the fun part."
Hayes raised an eyebrow. "What fun part?"
Zelda sighed dramatically. "Meeting your parents. I mean, they've been hearing about me for ages, so it's time I finally make my debut." She was trying to sound confident, but the tension in her voice didn't escape him. "Is it weird that I'm nervous?"
Hayes laughed, his heart lighter than it had been all day. "You'll be fine. My parents are easy to talk to, trust me."
Zelda gave him a hesitant smile, but Hayes could see the nervousness still there. "Easy for you to say. You've known them forever. I'll be trying to figure out how to impress them while, you know, not embarrassing myself."
"Hey," Hayes teased, "just be yourself, and they'll love you. Besides, I have a habit of embarrassing myself around them."
She shot him a look. "I'm not that nervous."
"Sure, sure," Hayes chuckled. "But we'll get through it. Together."
Zelda gave him a soft, grateful smile, and for the first time that day, Hayes felt everything fall into place. Graduation was just the beginning.
And they were in this together.
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Whispers and Doodles
RomanceSometimes, the quietest voices leave the loudest echoes. Zelda Phillips has always been the quiet observer, keeping her head down and her thoughts to herself. But when a mysterious message threatens her fragile sense of peace, she finds herself draw...