Graduation day.
It was the month of June.
The sun blazed overhead like a furnace.
I stood on the athletic field in my black graduation gown, the tassel on my cap dancing wildly in the gusting wind.
My mom was there.
She sat in the front row of the family section, a straw sun hat on her head, phone held high in both hands to record every single moment.
The chancellor stood on stage, delivering his speech.
"Classmates, today marks a magnificent new beginning in your lives..."
I stood erect in the formation.
The sun scorched the back of my neck.
Hot.
Warm.
The undeniable feeling of being alive.
"Now, please welcome our outstanding graduate representative to speak."
I stepped up onto the stage.
The microphone was angled slightly too high, so I adjusted the stand downward with on
