[71] When Hearts Like Ours Meet [Frank Iero]

“I am proud to present you all with your certificates for passing your swimming exams, grade 1,” Aaron smiled as he looked between all of us wrapped in our towels. It had been the day of the exam and we had to successfully display certain types of swimming. The parents of the kids had been there to cheer them on, and so had my parents and Toyah's parents. We asked the rest of the guys not to come because it would put us off. It was distracting having parents there, but they had been paying for the lessons, and it was a nice trip for them to come and see us pass our exams. It was an especially good feat for Toyah who, before the swimming lessons, had a phobia of water and would never get into deep waters. For me? I used to be a top swimmer, and I was well on the way to bouncing back to how I wanted things to be. I was getting further ahead with my schooling, I was still avoiding stressful situations, but I could adapt to more things, I had just passed my grade 1 swimming exam and it was my 18th birthday tomorrow.

I clapped as he presented Kelly with her certificate, her wet blonde hair dripping down her towel which she grasped around herself. She smiled and shook Aaron's hand before taking the certificate. We applauded the other kids, Toyah and I last. We had started lessons 3 weeks later than the kids had, and took our exam on the same day and passed.

“well done Adelaide. I hope that you continue with your lessons. Who knows? Maybe we'll be back to how we used to be soon. Private swimming lessons for my top swimmer?” he asked as I walked up to him to get my certificate.

“you bet! I ain't giving up now,” I smiled and he grinned, holding his hand out for me. I took it, hearing my parents, Toyah, her parents and the kids applauding and cheering me. He handed me my certificate, and I stood back in the line we had made, as he finally called Toyah up.

“when you came for your first lesson, you refused to get into the water. I instantly thought 'oh god. This is going to be difficult'. It wasn't difficult. I watched you grow with confidence and determination, and I watched the phobia of yours disappear. I'm so proud of you,” he said and she beamed, before shaking his hand and receiving her certificate, amidst the cheering and applauding of the parents watching from the side, the kids in the line next to me and myself, who was cheering the loudest. Out of everyone, she had improved the most. She had overcame a lifelong phobia and learnt to swim.

“how’s this for a good birthday present?” she asked as she joined me again. I turned to her and laughed. It was a good birthday present. I felt like I had accomplished something amazing. I felt as though I was on top of the world. I had passed my grade 1 swimming exam...for the second time.

We both joined our parents on the benches, who had been talking together and they stood up, advancing on us. Toyah's mom opened her arms for her and kissed her on the top of her head proudly.

“I am so proud of you,” my mom gushed as she opened her arms to me, not caring that I'd get her wet. I smiled and tried to hug her back, whilst still holding my towel to me and my certificate, trying not to get it wet.

“you were awesome out there. You done really well,” my dad said, leaning in as I pulled away from my mom, to plant a kiss on my forehead. I beamed. I had the world in the palms of my hands. I could do anything I wanted if I put my mind to it. I had proved that with my schooling and my swimming. I was climbing back up the walls of the pit I had fell down when I stepped into that road and got struck down by that car.

“well done, you,” Toyah's mom said to me, as she held one arm out to me. I smiled and stepped into her, as she rubbed my arm with her hand, and her dad messed up my wet hair, as Toyah was congratulated, much the same way by my parents.

“it was like watching you swim all over again before the accident,” her mom commented and I smiled up at her, noting her brown eyes which were the same colour as Toyah's but also the same colour as her hair.

“lunch is on us,” my dad piped up and I turned to grin at Toyah who was staring down at her certificate. We both groaned at the prospect of eating at the diner. If we wasn’t swimming so much, then all of the fast food that we ate there would have us bursting out of the seams of our clothes.

“I can't believe we done it,” she breathed, her eyes not leaving her certificate. I smiled and nodded, and she looked up, before bouncing up and down. “we done it! We passed! We can swim!” she shouted happily, and I joined her, before we made our way to the changing rooms to get changed.

Things were definitely looking up. Everything was going amazing. I had amazing friends. I was getting closer to achieving my goal of going to college. I'd have to go a few years later than everyone else, but I'd go, and I had passed my first swimming exam. Nothing could get better. Well, one thing could get better. I could have Frank back. I wanted him back so badly, but my head screamed that he wasn't worth it and that he never meant anything he said to me. I wondered which would win in the battle of head over heart. The both of mine were conflicting with each other, and it kept me awake at night. Did I want him back? Could I have him back, or had it all been a lie? Would he want me back?

“It's my birthday!” I shouted as I bounced into the kitchen, finding my parents seated at the kitchen table, talking over cups of coffee. They had closed the diner for the day. I didn't know why, but I wasn't going to complain because I'd get to spend some time with them that wasn’t at the diner and smelling of grease and coffee.

“happy birthday, baby,” my mom cooed as she stopped her conversation upon my arrival and turned to see me. Her green eyes glittered as her lips formed into a huge smile. She stood from her seat and advanced upon me in a hug. It was the first birthday I could ever remember having and I didn't quite know what happened on birthdays. Did you do something special? Did you just spend the day doing what you want? I had only been present for James' birthday and he had a party. Did everyone have a party for their birthday? I wasn't having a party for my birthday. I wasn't sure I even wanted one.

“come in here and open your cards and presents,” she said as she let go of me and wandered into the living room. My dad stood and kissed me on the forehead.

“happy birthday, princess,” he greeted and I smiled, before following him into the living room where my mom was. I sat down on the sofa and they passed me a small pile of cards, which I opened. Some containing money and all of them from people I didn't know or remember, only the card from my parents familiar. The other cards were from aunties, uncles, cousins and the likes who didn't live near by. Relatives I had never met since the accident, and had only seen in photographs. Relatives I couldn't put names to faces, or remember how they were related to me. It didn't matter though, cause I had parents who loved me.

I placed all the cards along the windowsill and the mantle piece beside the swimming certificate I had placed proudly in the middle of the mantle piece. It was my pride and joy at the minute, and I liked to sit there and look at it, amazed that I had earned it myself.

I opened my presents, receiving a white gold necklace with a diamond and a matching ring. I also received some books and CD's. “that's not all, either,” my mom piped up and I looked up at her.

“your dad and I have arranged for a party for you at the diner. It's a birthday party, but a congratulations joint party also, for you and Toyah passing your swimming exams,” she explained, and while I should be happy, I wasn't quite. My stomach and my heart sunk into my gut, burning on the bile. Why wasn't I happy? Because it meant Frank wasn't going to be there. How come, that he ruined my life and made me hurt even on a day that I wouldn't see him and on a happy day that was meant for celebration, I still wished and wanted him to be there? It was my first birthday since the accident, and he was ruining it without even doing anything.