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I cannot be still. Shifting weight from foot to foot causing my head to sway slightly side to side. I glance to one side and notice a young woman, vaguely familiar, grinning sweetly. I briefly wonder if the smile is for me, but most likely because this is her graduation day, also. I look again and notice everyone that I can see is smiling, beaming. This is a great occasion, one that most of us have anticipated for years. We have all worked hard, some more than others. There are those that everything seemed to come naturally. Others, like me, had a tough go of it studying constantly and occasionally requiring assistance from some one in the previously mentioned group.
Whispers begin waving throughout the crowd. Suddenly the very air is alive with a kind of static electricity, as if we were standing in the center of a silent, invisible lightning storm. I look to the front and someone is just taking center stage.
This is it. The moment we have all been so patiently waiting for. He gives a brief welcome then begins to read the names one by one. The excitement is almost too much to restrain and I want to shout ‘Me next. Me next.’ But I remain calm, as much as possible.
Then I hear it. My name. I cannot remember ever hearing it spoken quite like this. For a second I cannot move, then it is all I can do to keep from running. After what seems like an eternity I reach the platform. He reaches out and takes my hand. He hugs me, oh so tight, but gentle. I do not want to let go. I weep a tearless weep of joy. Finally, He kisses my cheek and says ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. Enter our kingdom and receive your rewards.’
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