Chapter 2 - The Empty Seat
Imani had spent months imagining her graduation.
She had pictured walking across the stage while her family shouted her name.
She had pictured her father taking too many photographs.
She had even imagined the embarrassing hug she knew Daniel would insist on giving her afterward.
Now she stood outside the ceremony entrance while Andre held his phone in front of them.
"Smile, baby girl."
Imani barely moved her mouth.
Andre took three pictures.
Then he looked at the screen.
"That's a good one."
He adjusted his jacket.
"Send me your favorite later. I'll post it."
Imani stared at him.
"Are you seriously not staying?"
Andre lowered his phone.
"Imani, I told you. I've got a meeting."
"You said you wanted to be here."
"And I am here."
"For five minutes?"
His expression changed.
"Don't start making this into something ugly."
She looked toward the parking lot.
Daniel was gone.
Andre followed her gaze.
"Listen, sweetheart. We're building a relationship. You can't expect everything at once."
Imani wanted to argue.
Instead, she stepped away.
"I have to line up with my class."
Andre nodded.
"Go do your thing. I'm proud of you."
She walked toward the graduates' entrance without answering.
Inside the seating area, her aunt Rochelle was already waiting.
Rochelle had been helping care for Imani since her mother died. She had driven her to dance practices, attended school plays, and sent care packages during college.
When Imani came past the guest section, Rochelle waved enthusiastically.
"Look at my beautiful niece!"
Imani managed a smile.
Then Rochelle looked over her shoulder.
"Where's Daniel?"
Imani froze.
"He couldn't come."
Rochelle frowned.
"Couldn't come? That man has been talking about this graduation for six months."
Imani looked down.
"Auntie, I have to go."
Before Rochelle could ask another question, Imani hurried away.
The ceremony began twenty minutes later.
Students marched across the grass in long rows.
The university president welcomed the graduating class.
Parents raised their phones.
Families cheered whenever their children appeared on the giant screens.
Imani sat among her classmates, trying to focus.
But her thoughts kept drifting back to Daniel.
She remembered the first time he had attended one of her school events.
She was eleven.
Her mother had died the previous winter, and everything in the house still reminded her of the life they had lost.
It was a science fair.
Imani had built a small model of a water filtration system.
She remembered standing beside her project, watching other children arrive with both parents.
She had felt terribly alone.
Then Daniel walked into the classroom wearing his oil-stained work shirt.
He had come directly from the garage.
"Sorry I'm late, Peanut," he whispered.
She had nearly cried from relief.
He stayed until the judges finished.
Afterward, he took her out for ice cream, even though her project hadn't won.
"You don't have to win for me to be proud of you," he told her.
She remembered those words now.
And she remembered the last thing she had said to him outside the gate.
He's my real father.
Imani pressed her hands together in her lap.
When the graduates began receiving their degrees, she looked toward the guest section.
Rochelle was there.
She was clapping for students she didn't even know.
But the chair beside her was empty.
Andre had not stayed.
Imani knew because she had seen him walking toward the parking lot before the ceremony began.
His ticket had been scanned.
His seat had been reserved.
And now it sat empty.
When her name was called, Imani stood.
"Imani Brooks. Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering."
The audience applauded.
Rochelle stood and cheered.
"That's my baby!"
Imani walked across the stage.
She shook hands with the university president.
She received her diploma cover.
Someone took an official photograph.
She smiled because she knew she was supposed to.
But all she could think about was the man who had spent years promising he would be there.
Not once had Daniel missed an important event when he could possibly attend.
Even during the semester when his business was struggling, he had driven three hours to help her move into a new apartment.
He had carried boxes up four flights of stairs.
Then he had bought groceries because he noticed her refrigerator was empty.
She had complained that he worried too much.
He had only smiled.
"That's what dads do."
After the ceremony, Rochelle found her near the fountain.
She embraced her tightly.
"Congratulations, sweetheart!"
"Thanks, Auntie."
Rochelle stepped back.
"Now tell me the truth. Why wasn't Daniel here?"
Imani looked at the grass.
"I gave his ticket to Andre."
Rochelle's smile vanished.
"Oh, Imani."
"I thought..."
Her voice broke.
"I thought Andre really wanted to be part of this."
Rochelle looked toward the emptying chairs.
"And did he stay?"
Imani shook her head.
Rochelle sighed.
"I know you've spent years wishing things were different with him."
Tears slid down Imani's cheeks.
"I just wanted him to choose me for once."
Rochelle gently took her hand.
"Baby, I understand wanting that. But Daniel has been choosing you every day for eleven years."
Imani began crying harder.
That evening, she returned home with her diploma cover under her arm.
The house was quiet.
On the kitchen table sat a small graduation cake.
Beside it were three plates, neatly arranged.
A handwritten card rested against a glass vase.
Inside the vase were the yellow roses Daniel had carried that morning.
Imani opened the card.
My beautiful girl,
You worked hard for this day. Nobody can take that away from you.
I hope you always remember how capable you are.
I'm so proud to be your dad.
Love,
Dad
Imani sat down at the kitchen table.
May you like
For the first time all day, she stopped trying to hold back her tears.
Because the man she had pushed away had still brought the flowers home for her.
