I cover the microphone, “Waiting for what?”
“To hear what you have to say, duh.” He smirks and steps back to join the crowd.
Malynda has joined them, and I don’t know what to say. I thought I was done with speeches for the day, and the result of the last one didn’t fill me with confidence.
I clear my throat and wipe my hand on my suit before gripping the microphone in my hand.
“Um, hi everyone, thank you so much for coming out here today.” Everyone is silent and the sound of my voice echoing through the speakers and around the gym is reminding me why I choose to be a contract lawyer and not a barrister. Paper and ink don’t stare at you and expect you to make sense on the spot.
I take a breath and look around at the space. Even in this gymnasium, it looks like everything we envisioned and more. A space of hope and inspiration. Of inclusion, acceptance, guidance. Above the mirrored wall there’s a collage of different figures dancing in different styles. Different races, different shapes, different abilities.
On the other wall, there are handwritten motivational quotes. That was a Gabriel idea. To get the kids to come up with their favorite sayings, not necessarily well known, but ones that they could relate to, that inspired them and that they thought might inspire others.
Everywhere I can see little touches that came from all of us. Things that speak to how this whole project came to life, a joint, community effort.
I’m overcome by what this place might achieve
I realize it’s been sometime since I’ve spoken, and everyone is still looking at me, expectantly.
“This center has been a dream of mine since I knew that I had a right to dream. That hasn’t always been the case, sometimes some of us have to fight for what others take for granted as given. But I’m here to tell you, we all have a right to want what we want for our own lives. Achieving it, however, it not a given. And not everyone has the same opportunities. That doesn’t make your dream any less valid. It just means you might have to work harder. And the Ash Center is here to give you the support you need.” I turn to the group of high school kids. “If you ever feel like you have a dream that is unreachable, remember me. Remember Kaine. Well, mostly Kaine, he’s the one with his name on a building.” There’s a ripple of laughter and I feel more at ease. “Thank you for being here to help us remember this day. And for your part in making it come true.” I search for her eyes and lock on them when I find them. “We could not have done it without you.”
I clear my throat and the mic drops down and there’s a spattering of applause as Malynda comes up and takes the microphone away from me.
“Not bad for being put on the spot,” she says and gives me a wink.
I want to wink back but I can’t. I can’t act normal when I just made the declaration of my life and she rejected it. I need to get out of here.
“I gotta go,” I say, leaning in.
“But I haven’t shown you what I wanna show you yet!”
“This isn’t it?” I say, gesturing to the gymnasium.
“You ain’t seen nothing yet.” She lifts her hand and gives Jade a thumbs up; Jade grins and gives her a thumbs-up back.
“Wha…”
“Just shut up for once and trust me, will ya?”
“I do trust you, Malynda. The question has always been, do you trust me?”
She gives me a look that has the butterflies in my stomach taking flight.
“Yes. I do, Xavier.”
Before I can respond, there’s a loud sound, like a sail catching in the wind, and I turn to see the giant sheet covering the wall fall to the ground.
And I gasp.
It’s her mural.
Brilliant, alive, larger than life.
And finished.
“It’s your mural.”
She turns to me, mouth dropped open.
“How did you-…? You saw it in Maine?”
I nod, unable to take my eyes off it. It’s twice as big as the wall at the basketball court, and this time she’s used paint, but it’s still the same image.
Somehow she’s replicated it almost exactly; the colors are vibrant and stunning, the image larger than life, filling you with warmth and hope.
Two hands outstretched to each other.
To each other, not one taking the other.
And the image is circled by the words, “Never underestimate the effect of a single act of kindness.”
She did it. My girl did it.
“I’m dying, tell me what you think?!!” she yells.
I force myself to look away and face her. Her eyes are as wide and bright as I’ve ever seen them, her cheeks flushed, her teeth sunken into her bottom lip.
I have no words, so I just cup her face in my hands and kiss her.
Kiss her until I feel like every emotion I have in this moment is made clear to her, how much I love her, admire her, am inspired by her, amazed by her. Kiss her until I have no breath left in my lungs.
And she kisses me back. Kisses me until I know that she’s forgiven me.
“When did you decide to do this?” I say, as we pull apart, panting, ignoring the crowd of people cheering us on in the background.
“Something reminded me that you don’t always respond so well to words,” she grins and pulls a crumpled letter out of her pocket and slides it into my hand. The unopened letter. “So I decided to show you instead. That you’ve always been my inspiration, Xavier. That’s what you’ve meant to me. Not my savior, my bodyguard, my protector. You were the one who helped me find myself.”
“It took me a long time to realize that, I’m sorry,” I tell her. “But I realize it now.”
“And I’m sorry that I didn’t trust you. I realize now that the only thing I ever needed to do was be honest with you. I trust you to be able to handle everything our lives have to throw at you.”
I sigh. I didn’t know I needed to hear that until I did. I trace the line of her face with my fingertip, a small gesture compared to the way my heart feels, dancing in my chest.
“How ’bout we start with breaking some secrets now?”
“Sure,” she nods.
I take her hand and lift it to my lips, pressing a kiss to her palm. “Tell me – what’s the secret ingredient in your mac and cheese?”
She throws her head back and laughs, gently punching me on the arm. “No fucking deal. That goes with me to the grave!”
I pull her still shaking body into my arms and kiss her again.
Until the whistles and cheers die down and I know even when I let go, she’ll still be there.
The End