Chapter 10 My Life, My Choice

• Four years flew by. The pain of the past faded. Now, graduation day brought fresh hope and new beginnings.
• Ashbourne University glowed in the warm light of late spring. The main courtyard, once filled with fake roses and cheap candles, was now alive with joy. Thousands of students in black gowns and colorful hoods moved across the stone paths. They hugged their families, snapped photos, and celebrated.
• Clara Bennett stood near the Business School archway. A thick velvet sash marked her as top graduate. She looked calm, strong, at peace. The scared, closed-off girl from four years ago was gone. The tired soul of a ghost had vanished. In its place was a young woman fully alive.