Green Ribbons

Currently listening to: Little Bit of Red by Serena Ryder, Black Hole by She & Him

Graduating was nice. It didn't feel like it was happening to me, but I didn't expect it to. I shook Shockley's hand and threw my confetti and still walked out to the Hall of Excellence, "I hope they serve grilled cheese more next year." It's still home. Which is stupid. But I'll survive. I'll figure it out.

During the ceremony, all of the graduates wore green ribbons to support a classmate who was in the hospital due to leukemia. She was actually experiencing her graduation via Skype on a laptop gracefully carried by her twin sister. I realize leukemia is probably put on a higher regard than thyroid cancer, as it should be. I mean, my grandmother died from leukemia. It's a very serious, and now, with immense thanks, a treatable condition. For most of the ceremony, my thoughts were with my peer. I could feel the sweat accumulating on the back of my neck as I remembered the hospital bed and hourly needles and the persistent panic that fell over me every ten minutes or so I was awake. There was a perpetual weight on my chest, and amidst the rushing nurses and beeping machines, I kept thinking I going to stop. It was terrifying. And honest to goodness, my heart breaks for her. I'm sure it felt good to hear the standing ovation of her community, but I know it would have felt much better to be in the gymnasium with us.

But life goes on, right? I mean, hell, there are more important days in a person's life than graduating high school. I know this simply based off of the little emotion I felt as I crossed the stage. Anyways, I don't know what I'm trying to say. But life is confusing and hard, and I'm glad to end that chapter and get on to something new and, undoubtedly, better.