The Storm between Us

Chapter 7

Today was graduation day.

She had spent nearly eight hours the night before doing her hair herself, sitting cross-legged on the floor of her bedroom with YouTube tutorials playing softly in the background as she carefully parted and braided every section.

The final result had come out exactly how she wanted.

Long neat waist-length blonde braids cascading down her back, the warm undertones making her rich brown skin glow even more beautifully. She turned her head from side to side admiring them.

Yeah...

I did that.

A small laugh escaped her.

Her makeup sat flawlessly against her skin. Soft full coverage foundation blended perfectly. Light concealer under her eyes.

Glossy lips.

Wispy lashes framing her eyes. A touch of highlight catching beautifully whenever light hit her cheekbones. Nothing too dramatic. Just enough to make her feel pretty.

And today... She wanted to feel pretty. She had earned it.

She slipped on a fitted cream colored dress that hugged her curves perfectly before stepping back toward the mirror one final time.

For a moment...

She simply stared.

It felt surreal.

Six months ago her life had completely fallen apart. She had buried her mother. Escaped a relationship that nearly destroyed her. Moved states.

Started over from scratch. Spent months trying to convince herself she hadn't lost everything.

And now...

Here she was.

Graduating.

Actually graduating. Again.

"Momma... I know you see me," she whispered softly.

Her throat tightened immediately.

She smiled through it.

She knew her mother would've been proud.

—

The graduation ceremony itself was small but meaningful.

The classroom that once felt intimidating on her first day now felt almost comforting.

Students she had quietly sat beside for months laughed loudly as families filled the seats. Some were taking photos. Some cried. Others held flowers and balloons waiting to celebrate their loved ones.

Amber sat quietly in her seat holding back tears while the instructor called each graduate one by one.

When her name echoed through the room... "Amber Williams." For a second...Everything felt still.

The entire room disappeared. All she could think about was how far she had come.

She stood slowly before walking toward the front. Each step felt heavy. Not because she was nervous.

Because this moment meant something. The instructor smiled warmly before handing her the certificate.

"Congratulations. You did amazing work."

Amber smiled politely.

"Thank you."

But the second the paper touched her hands...

Reality hit. This was hers. She had done this. No one handed it to her. No one saved her. She fought for this. And won. Not her first accomplishment but still important.

She blinked fast, refusing to cry in front of everyone. Not today.

—

The second she got back home that afternoon, she immediately pulled the certificate out of the folder.

She stood in the middle of the living room staring at it.

Certified Nursing Assistant.

Her name printed neatly across the paper.

Official.

Real.

Permanent.

A huge smile spread across her face.

"Oh absolutely not."

She laughed to herself.

There was no way she was letting this sit folded in some drawer. She had brought the prettiest gold and bkack frame from sss a few thats ago and thats where she put it. Ready to go on the wall with the rest of her accomplishments.

The moment she got home she carefully placed the certificate inside. Then immediately hung it on the wall directly above her bed.

She stepped back crossing her arms.

Perfect.

Every morning she wanted to wake up and remember what she accomplished. Proof that she was rebuilding herself. Proof that she survived.

—

Later that evening her cousins insisted on celebrating. Her older cousin Xasso had practically forced her out the apartment.

"No excuses. You graduating is a big deal."

So now Amber found herself standing inside her cousin's house surrounded by loud music, laughter, and the smell of food filling every corner.

It felt like home.

Christmas decorations covered almost everything. A massive tree sparkled near the living room window.

Red and gold ornaments hung perfectly from the branches.

Holiday music played softly between random dancehall songs blasting from the speaker. The kitchen counters overflowed with food.

Mac and cheese. Honey glazed wings. Rice and peas. Jerk chicken. Pasta salad. Sorrel chilling inside a giant pitcher.

Amber sat on the couch smiling as family members kept walking over hugging her.

Everyone kept congratulating her. Telling her how proud they were.

For once...She felt surrounded by love. The kind she had been missing.

"I can't lie," Shanice said grinning. "You actually ate this whole CNA thing up."

Amber laughed.

"I was stressed every day."

"Didn't look like it."

"I definitely was."

Across the room Xasso suddenly pointed at the framed certificate sitting proudly on the table.

"You so extra."

Amber shrugged.

"Listen... I worked hard for that."

"You framed it the same day?"

"Immediately."

The room erupted into laughter.

"Girl didn't waste no time," someone yelled.

Amber smiled shaking her head.

Then suddenly Xasso sat beside her looking unusually serious.

"Well..."

Amber raised an eyebrow.

"What?"

Xasso leaned back casually.

"So... funny enough..."

She narrowed her eyes immediately.

"Why do you look like that?"

He grinned.

"Because I might've already found you a job."

Amber blinked.

"...What?"

Across the shanice started smiling like she already knew.

Xasso continued.

"So one of my coworkers... his neighbor owns group homes out here."

Amber listened carefully.

"She runs a residential houses for autistic adults. Apparently one of her CNAs just quit last week and she been looking for somebody reliable."

Amber sat up straighter immediately.

"Wait... seriously?"

Xasso nodded. "Very serious."

Her heart started racing.

"That fast?"

"Gets better."

Amber stared.

Xasso smirked proudly.

"I may or may not have already told her about you."

Amber narrowed her eyes.

"...Xasso."

"And..."

"...Xasso."

"And I may or may not have filled out the application already."

Her mouth literally fell open.

"You WHAT?"

The entire room burst out laughing.

Xasso reached into his hoodie pocket and pulled out folded papers.

"All you gotta do is sign it."

Amber stared at him in disbelief.

"You serious right now?"

"Very."

She grabbed the papers quickly.

Reading every line.

Everything was already filled out. All her information.

"Oh my God..."

Xasso nodded casually like he hadn't just changed her life.

"She liked what I told her."

Amber looked up.

"Wait... I haven't even interviewed."

Xasso grinned wider.

"About that."

She stared.

"The interview is tomorrow."

Amber nearly choked.

"TOMORROW?"

"Yep."

"What do you mean tomorrow?"

"You submit this tonight."

Amber looked between him and the paper.

"Xasso—"

"She basically already hired you."

Amber froze.

"...What?"

"She said if you seem responsible and can handle caregiving... the job yours."

For a second...

Amber didn't know what to say.

Everything had happened so fast.

Graduating.

Celebrating.

And now...

A job opportunity.

Immediately.

It almost felt unreal.

Tears suddenly filled her eyes.

Not sadness.

Relief.

For months life had been knocking her down over and over again.

And now...

For the first time...

Things were finally falling into place.

Xasso noticed immediately.

"Don't cry."

Amber laughed while wiping her eyes.

"I'm not crying."

"You definitely crying."

She shook her head smiling.

"No... I'm just..."

Her voice caught.

She looked around the room.

At family.

At the Christmas lights glowing softly against the walls.

At the certificate sitting proudly framed nearby.

At the life she was slowly rebuilding.

She exhaled deeply.

"...I think life is finally getting better."

For the first time in a very long time...

Amber believed it.