The day had finally arrived. Nicholas was graduating. He was moving on from a life of pain and depression. He was leaving the days of ignorance and hollow bliss. He was free from the chains that deemed him unworthy of affection. College had been more than an education to him; it was an experience.

He sat in a large auditorium as the lustrous lights glowed against the dark ceilings, painting across the surface, a polished platform a couple feet away as hundreds of students lined in their black robes. Graduation hats sat proudly upon their heads like crowns of achievement that opened a door to their future. Their wide eyes glimmered with awe, with pride in their studies.

The blocks of satisfaction had risen, building carefully towards the highest peak where all his peers knew they'd one day achieve. At this peak, there was no school. At this peak, there were no screams of frustration. At this peak, their wildest dreams had rested. That peak was their goals, their aspirations, their future. Like his professor had said, college was only one part of life.

The murmuring quieted to an echoing silence, heavy footsteps patted against the floor, a constant rhythm against the garnished wood. Nicholas knew Humaid and Dina sat in the audience, eagerly awaiting the ceremony and decorated certificates. The Younes clan cheered and chanted Haroon's name as they watched him approach the podium, their lips dripping with an overwhelming grasp of a reality. Haroon's parents were proud of their son, but Nicholas couldn't say the same about his.

He didn't know if they showed up.

Pushing the thought aside, Nicholas jeered his attention back to Haroon, blinking back the tears that threatened to spill. It doesn't matter, he tried to convince himself, I don't care if they choose to come.

Yet as the clock kept ticking, his heart grew heavy. His chest constricted painfully, lungs closing as he gasped a shaky breath. The action startled Elijah, who turned in his seat to hold Nicholas as he doubled over.

"Whoa, Nick. What happened?"

No one seemed to notice through their haze of relief from college life. All attention was on the stage for the student speech, except Elijah and Nicholas. His best friend's darkened skin glistened with a drop of sweat, trailing down the rough curls under his hat. Stress evidently lined his forehead, brown eyes frantically searching Nicholas's visage for any answers.

Nicholas opened his mouth to wave off the worry, but his lips felt dry, the words becoming a desert of evaporated water. The once fluid words refused to spill, a sign that his lie was not worth the effort.

"T-They... my parents," he stumbled for words, meeting Elijah's gaze, "they didn't come."

His eyes widened. "They wouldn't miss your graduation, right?"

"But they did," he whispered brokenly. Don't succumb to the darkness again, Nicholas reminded himself. Don't be weak.

A heavy hand fell onto his shaking pale one, grasping it firmly in its warmth. Nicholas stared at Elijah with confusion swirling within, but his friend merely smiled.

Life was strange in many ways. When there was a lapse of detrimental sadness, there was always a loving force to wash it away, a person to wipe away his tears and pull Nicholas back up.

It was a shame it took Nicholas so long to appreciate it.

"It's going to be okay, Nick," comforted Elijah as his hold tightened. "You have so many people in your life now. We're your family too. If your parents aren't here to celebrate with you, then you have your friends. You have me."

Slowly, the heavy frown had lifted. "Thanks, Elijah."

He only nodded, releasing Nicholas's hand as they both focused their attention back on Haroon. There he was, a silky robe shimmering in the blinding light. His light brown eyes scanned the audience, keeping his smile intact.

"Go Haroon!" yelled a familiar deep voice from a distance.

Nicholas knew it was Humaid without even shifting in his seat.

"Well, it's nice to know I have fans even though it's just my family," chuckled Haroon into the mic. The audience erupted in laughter, but Haroon kept going. "Yeah, I should be a comedian instead of an engineer. At least one of them pays well."

Another rumble of laughter echoed off the walls, and Nicholas felt his cheeks begin to feel sore from his smiling. The previous thoughts of his parents dissipated before his eyes as his mind tuned into his friend's speech.

Once the audience had quieted once again, Haroon took a moment to scan the room, a wistful look entering his eyes as the sanguine nature of their graduation finally hit him. Nicholas wondered how it must have felt to stand on a stage, delivering a speech about college and having all eyes on him. He remembered how he listened to Haroon's numerous failures at creating a speech and even edited the final one for him.

Seeing his friend on stage, making people laugh, and smiling through his discomfort brought a blossoming pride within his chest. Haroon's eyes brightened as he smiled towards his family, who continued to cheer him with their undying support.

"What a family," whispered Elijah next to him. "They look so strict, but look at how they encourage him."

"Tell me about it," replied Nicholas, looking behind him to see Dina.

As if his eyes narrowed at her, everyone around them disappeared as her enticing eyes sparkled with elation, meeting him in a smoldering daze of raw emotion. Dina's lips released a small laugh as she waved at him, unknown to her parents. His heart skipped a beat, thundering against his chest in an irregular rhythm. She strummed his heartstrings, and she knew it all too well.

She was the muse of his heart.

Haroon's deep voice brought his attention back to the stage. "Wow, can you guys believe how far we've come? Can you believe how many obstacles, how many trials of faith, how many all-nighters it took to be in these graduation robes? We're finally at the end of college. We've just passed one of the biggest aspects of our lives, you know after high school prom that is," he joked.

The audience bubbled with laughter once again, the sweet sound creating echoes around the auditorium in waves of delight, bouncing from wall to wall, person to person.

"Okay, I admit. I was joking about that last one," grinned Haroon. "The point is, we've made it this far. College is not everything. From this day on, we'll be leading our own lives. I thought a lot about what deep philosophical thing I should say today, but most of the good statements have already been said. So, I think I'll leave my fellow peers with some advice."

The mood shifted at the gentle caress of his voice, the concern that laced around his every word. Nicholas and Elijah unconsciously leaned closer, waiting to hear the words that a brilliant student like him had to offer. Haroon seemed to sense Nicholas's attention, maple eyes locking onto his.

He's going to go off-script.

"Life is hard. Life will not be gentle towards you. I guarantee that, but the point of life isn't to be perfect or to be blinded by greed. It isn't about who's right and who's wrong. Life is about change, about growth, and about imperfect people. Yes, you will face hardships, and yes, there will be dark days, but I only ask that you don't let those days affect you. I ask that you keep the sun in your path and not stray from it.

"The road only gets tougher from here. Brace yourself. Getting a job isn't easy. Pursuing further education isn't easy. Starting a family isn't easy. Life isn't easy. There will always be dark days, but I beg you," he said as the entire room seemed to hold its breath from the concern that dripped off his every word and the haunting tone of his voice. "I beg you to never dwell on those days. Never let the darkness overpower you. Thank you and congratulations to everyone."

Haroon dropped the mic, walking off the stage as a chorus of applause roared through the auditorium, even Nicholas had stood up to clap. The effect of the speech weighed heavily on all the graduates, gripping them with unfettered sentiments as they reflected upon Haroon's words. For some unknown reason, Nicholas felt as though the people around him had sensed his unease and possible relapse.

They all repeated the same words. Don't give up, he repeated. I shouldn't give up.

Little did he know that the Younes twins were determined to make sure Nicholas wouldn't forget.

----

*crickets*

What up, guys? I'm supposed to finish my college essay today but I got distracted by wattpad XD

Omg there's a guy at my school that looks like Nicholas and it freaked me out. But my Nicholas is better obviously.

Also, one of my friends, CandescentLight, started a really edgy book, so if like those types of books then you should read it.

Don't forget to vote, comment, and follow!