Gage and Sadie

Chapter 3: Sadie

Ten months later...

Since all of my friends are pretty much graduating with me, I try to keep my mind off the fact that there is absolutely no one in the stands to cheer me on. I'd pictured this day after Gage proposed to me; he'd be watching and taking pictures, cheering proudly when my name was called, sweeping me into an ah-mazing kiss when he found me following the ceremony. We'd go out to celebrate for dinner, and then he'd take me home to celebrate more intimately.

A few days after Gage had proposed and I accepted, we'd been watching a movie in which there was a graduation and it hit me. My body jolted at the happy thought.

"What is it, sweet?"

"I just realized I'll have somebody in the stands just for me for the first time ever when I graduate."

Something flashed in his eyes, but I couldn't decipher it since he quickly pulled me in close. He'd kissed the top of my head and we returned to watching the movie.

It only now dawned on me that he never said he'd be there. He knew that he wouldn't be in my life once he married me. I was a means to an end that would be summarily dismissed once he'd achieved his objective.

Shaking off the melancholy thought, I focused on the five other women around me, all clad in the same black masters caps and gowns. Throughout our undergrad and graduate years, I'd become close with these five girls, so we'd spent the last hour before crossing the stage taking pictures and laughing. Underlying our fun was the sadness that we were all scattering for our clinical fellowships. SLPs graduate with a masters but are still required to do a clinical fellowship year practicing under a certified SLP. I'd managed to secure a fellowship at Ladies of Mercy, one of Austin's teaching hospitals, where I wanted to specialize in swallowing, specifically with preemies. I'd been astounded when they'd accepted me; positions like that are highly competitive, and although I was top of my class, I didn't yet have much experience with the NICU. I'd found a room for rent two blocks from the hospital so I wouldn't need a car right away until I saved some money for a beater, which would help me save money. The fact that it was three hours away from school was an added bonus -- I'd be out of Gage's reach and away from the ever-present spies.

We got the call to line up and we did a quick group hug. "See you on the other side!" Keera laughed.

"Tonight, we go out and celebrate our hard work!" Whitney pumped her fist.

"It just doesn't seem real," I said. "No more classes."

"Right?" Sara Jo nudged me. "Like, what will we do with our time?"

And then we walked into the auditorium, listened to speeches, and crossed the stage when our names were called. All of us cheered for the others, but my heart still pinged that, unlike my five friends, I had no one in the audience there for me.

We gathered for photos after the ceremony ended, and I gladly took photos of the girls with their families, ignoring the sadness that tried to strike since, as with my previous graduations, no one was in the audience for me.

I was currently taking the last pictures of Whitney and her two brothers and parents when I noticed their attention suddenly focused on me.

Or, more accurately, someone right behind me.

Whitney's eyes were large and I was shocked when I glanced over my shoulder and Gage was standing there.

"Congratulations, Sadie," he said quietly.

My manners fled as my anger surged forward. "Why are you here?" I hissed at him. "You need to leave."

He seemed startled at my anger, as if the months apart would have mellowed me, would have drawn a veil over his actions toward me.