The school auditorium was decorated beautifully. There were pictures of the graduating class on bulletin boards on the walls. The chairs were nicely arranged. The refreshment table was filled with remarkable goodies to die for. Maria knew that her sweet tooth was going to get the best of her today. The graduation ceremony itself was going wonderfully. The principal had given the most magnificent speech to the graduating class. Maria was overwhelmed with the excitement. Her friends sat next to her dressed in their blue graduation gowns and caps. She was minutes away from obtaining her diploma. It all seemed unreal to her. She looked in the front row and she saw her mother, her grandmother, her aunts and uncles, her cousins. This was it! When it was time for Maria to get her diploma she walked on the stage straight and leisurely. She was proud of herself and her accomplishments. The time had come. The real world would have to make itself ready for her!
When she was handed her diploma she looked out into the crowd and she saw her father. Her smile vanished. She saw him turn to a man next to him and she read his lips saying "That's my kid." Maria just shook her head and took her seat. She had been conned into becoming an ego builder for her father. He hadn't come to see her. He had come to make himself feel good. The ball had begun to roll again. Bump,bump,bump. This time, however, Maria did not care.
" He is the most pathetic thing I have ever seen!" Maria exclaimed.
The ball stopped. She began to see him in a different way. She felt sorry for him and ashamed. She was ashamed of herself because she had allowed this nonsense to go on for eight years.
The last student went up to receive her diploma and the now graduated seniors stood up and threw their caps in the air. Maria joined in this enjoyment, knowing fully well what she had to do. She understood now, why her faded blue comforter had reminded her of Joseph.
******When the ceremony was over Maria began to chat with her friends. She was having a wonderful gay time with them when she heard a voice behind her call her name. Maria turned around and she saw it was Joseph.
" Well, Maria aren't you going to introduce me to your friends?" he said.
Maria looked at her friends and then at her father. " No. Why would I do that? I don't know you." With that Maria excused herself and went to go find her mother. She wanted to see someone familiar.
Maria knew she had won the war. She was no longer her father's toy. She would no longer be a part of his ego trap. She was free. As she was walking she happened to look down at her crucifix. It was stained with blood.
"What?!" Maria exclaimed looking at her crucifix and then at her fingers. The forefinger of her right hand was bleeding. I must have cut it when I got my diploma. Maria thought.
Maria begin to wipe her crucifix gently with her left thumb and then stopped abruptly. The stained crucifix bothered her. It looked frightening. Maria felt a lump in her thoart and sighed. The vividness of all her now fleeting feelings rushed back to her in a gasp. The dream, the memories, that night! She touched her hand and then she understood. She had not escaped, yet. It was not finished. She turned around just in time to catch the sight of her father walking toward the exit.
" Dad!" Maria shouted. Joseph turned around startled. " Whenever you're ready to take responsibility as a father, just open the door. You have the key. Just don't expect me to open it from the outside for you. The padlocks will never change. It's up to you. I have made my decision, now it's your turn."
Maria then turned around and walked toward her mother. Mother, must find mother,she thought. Find her. Find her. Maria began to walk rapidly. She understood what had just unfolded. She had accepted her father for who he was and for what he couldn't be. She was okay. She had obtained a sense of peace she never thought she could feel. Find mother, must find mother.
Maria had wanted something she had never had. She knew this now. She had lost a part of her that day, but she also gained another part as well. She now understood why one has to suffer so. Mother, mother, mother! There she was. Right in front of her. Maria reached her mother and hugged tighter then she had ever done before.
"I love you too honey." Her mother said. As she hugged her daughter, she noticed the crucifix and Maria's finger. She took out a white handkerchief out of her purse and wiped the blood off the crucifix. Then she wiped Maria's finger clean.
Maria just held her mother firmly until warm tears came to her eyes.
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Quick word of reference, Maria Lopez is the character that I use in all my stories. Her creation lead to an entire saga entitled Vanishing Images. This part of the story will be added to this webpage shortly. Look for it!