HAWKESBAY 2049

“Today is a great day for the students of the Hawkesbay University. It’s their graduation ceremony, where the Mayor is the chief guests. We will be covering the event live as the mayor hands all these future leaders and pioneers their respective degrees…” a young girl shuts down the Television and shouts, “Mom, Dad, Reed we are going to be late! I’m not ruining my graduation day because your alarms didn’t ring on time!”

Mary replies, “We’ll be there on time Anna just wear your shoes and start the car!” Anna rushes outside after wearing her shoes and the family quickly leaves for the ceremony!”

They arrive at the university auditorium and take their seats. As the ceremony proceeds and the graduates take their degrees they say a few words to their loved ones one by one. Finally it’s Anna’s turn. Her name is called and she gets up nervously, she takes a deep breath as she steps up on the stage, all eyes on her. She takes her degree from the mayor and clears her throat as she goes towards the microphone.

“It’s a great day for me and my family. I’d like to start by thanking my mother who has always been a rock solid support for me, and my father for always understanding my ambitions and respecting them.”

“I’d also like to thank my brother who always guided me through my journey. But I’d also like to thank one more person. A person who has been there for me, since the very beginning of this journey, he has been there for me. He was my project partner, my book buddy and soon he’ll be my life partner as well. He is sitting right there!” she pointed in the crowd and everyone looked at him. “David Wolfe…thank you for always being there for me always!”

Everyone in the auditorium clapped for both of them, cheers and whistles echoed the walls of the auditorium. David shyly looked at her and smiled while his parents Issac and Olivia looked at both of them with love. After the graduation ceremony Reed took the car back home and left the families to themselves.

Issac took all of them in his SUV and drove around Hawkesbay talking to Mary and Peter about the wedding of David and Anna. They drove near the alley where Peter and Mary met and Peter said in an excited tone, “Oh my God, stop here Issac!”

Issac startled and stopped the car. “Kids, this is the place where I met Mary and fell in love with her. She dropped her brooch and a gentleman in a black hoodie gave the brooch to me, “Hand this to the lady in the black gown” he said.”

“He was in a hurry and I always think to this day, what if he didn’t give me the brooch and handed it to your mother himself? I guess I wouldn’t have your mother in my life then.”

Issac looked at Peter in disbelief and said, “What a strange coincidence, I remember being hit by a car on this very street. I had an apartment near this area when I was still a young detective. I guess I was in a hurry that day, didn’t look both ways and bang…got what I deserved. I was rushed to the hospital and that’s where I met Olivia, she was a nurse at that time and took good care of me. Soon we started dating and then I married her.”

Issac looked straight ahead and saw Grab-a-Grub. “Don’t tell me that you and Mary went to that diner over there after you gave her the brooch!” Peter grinned and said, “Actually I did!” Everyone started laughing and they all decided to stop at the diner and get something to eat.

They entered the diner and sat at a table. Everyone gave their orders and waited for the food. As they waited David got up and said, “Alright everyone, this day calls for a photo. I want this day to forever be etched in my memories. I am really thankful to have so many lovely people in my life.”

He gave his phone to a guy sitting at the next table and they all posed for the photo. As the photo got taken Mary and Issac’s smile faded a little and they both said at the same time, “I think I have seen all this before!” everyone looked at them in shock and Mary nervously said, “I don’t know…maybe we were all meant to meet each other like this, who knows how time works!”