Ring ring. I woke up to the sound of my phone ringing in my ear. I look at my screen to see that it’s Bella calling and answer it. “Where. The. Fuck. Are. YOU!? The graduation is about to begin,” Bella yelled into the phone. 

“Oh shit,” I said, shooting up out of bed. “That's today,” I continued, pulling on my jeans and falling over. 

“Yeah, that’s today, dumbass,” Bella responds.  

“Fuck you.” 

“No thanks,” said Bella. I could practically see her rolling her eyes. I couldn't help laughing. 

“Ha. Ha. You’re sooo funny,” I grab a shirt from my closet. 

Bella responded with, “I try to be,” and hung up.

I finished getting dressed and grabbed the keys to my Camaro and ran out the door. When I got to my car, I remembered that I needed to lock the door. I live alone in a decent house. I have a good paying job, but I barely make it by sometimes. I pulled up in front of the high school and just decided to park around the block since the parking lot was full. It was a nice day, so I wasn’t too worried. I jumped out of my car and snatched my graduation gown from the back seat. Bella almost tackled me with a hug when she greeted me. By then it was time for me to give my speech since I was the valedictorian and going into the military. I went up to the stage and said my speech. Everybody cheered and congratulated me on getting the highest score and all that. 

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I finally got away from everybody crowding around me.

“Yo, dude, are you ready to go out to eat with our friends yet?” Bella yelled at me from across the hall.I told her to go ahead and that I would meet her there, but first I had to go do something. I went back to my car and drove to the local cemetery. When I got there I walked up to two certain graves. Kneeling down, I place a graduation gown on the one too my left. I left a bouquet of yellow roses on the grave to my right. There were four graves in all, but only two were important. I couldn’t help but cry. I cried for a least two hours before I felt a hand on my shoulder. I looked up to see Bella tearing up.

 “I miss them too,” she said. The four graves were my best friend’s family. Her mom, her step-dad, her younger sister, and Harleigh Kocher who’s gravestone

 read: Beloved by many and remembered by all. Today we would have graduated and started a life, but they never found her or her sister’s body.