Epilogue

June 7th, 2016

"Thank you High Fliers for the beautiful performance," announced the class valedictorian Daniel Hart as the group made their way off of the riser's that were set up in front of the stage that was set up in the football stadium for graduation. As the members of the group made their way back to their seats, one figure in her light blue cap and gown ran back to the soundboard behind the stage.

"I now have the pleasure of welcoming to the stage a graduating member of the High Fliers, who just recently signed a contract with RCA records," Daniel paused as all the students, and all those in the stands that had met the girl, erupted into cheers. Behind the stage, Jessica Robinson blushed brightly at the wave of sound that was being made for her as she silently made her way towards the ramp at the rear of the stage. "Here she is, singing 'I Learned From You' from the movie Bridge to Terabithia, Jessie Robinson!"

The screaming that met Jessie's ears as she walked out onto the stage was almost deafening, and if she did not have the earpiece in her ear so she could hear the music, she wouldn't have been able to hear it at all. She smiled and waved to all those in the stadium with her free hand as she walked across the stage, Daniel having moved the announcers podium off to the side to give her more room.

All the feelings of nerves that she had had her first time singing before an audience four years prior we all a distant memory. They had been replaced with excitement, adrenaline, and an all out passion for what she was doing. The stage was now her second home and she knew this was where she belonged. Not only from what she had seen in her trip to the future, where her forty five year old self was returning from her final world tour, but by the love she now had of performing. The audience began to lessen their screaming as she began to sing.

Sometimes I couldn't hear what you tried to tell me
I thought that I knew all I need to know
I didn't understand that the doors you would open
Could take me to somewhere I wanted to go
I can be strong for you now
You taught me how

As she began to sing the chorus, she moved across the stage and began to wave her free arm in the air and smiled into her mic as the audience began to follow her lead and began to wave their arms back and forth in the air.

I learned from you
That I do not crumble
I learned that strength is something you choose
All of the reasons to keep on believing
There's no question that's a lesson
I learned from you

You know where to find all of my hiding places
And there are no secrets from you I can keep
You let me know how you feel pulling no punches
And I never knew that kind of honesty
I'm grateful for all of the times
You opened my eyes

As Jessie began to sing through the chorus a second time, she held the mic out towards the audience and yelled, "Let me hear ya!"

Thousand of voices began to fill the stadium, singing the refrain now along with a laughing Jessie as she moved back across the stage and prepared to go into the bridge of the song.

You help me to stand on my own
And I thank you for that it saved me it made me
And now that I'm looking back I can say

I learned from you
That I do not crumble
I learned that strength is something you choose
All of the reasons to keep on believing
There's no question that's a lesson
I learned from you

I learned from you
That I do not crumble
I learned that strength is something you choose
All of the reasons to keep on believing
There's no question that's a lesson
I learned from you

Jessie closed her eyes as she held out the last note of the song, the few voices that had sung with her until the end breaking away and joining in with those that were screaming. She opened her eyes as she lowered the mic away from her mouth and her arm fell down to her side, a bright smile on her face.

She looked to her left and spotted Franny sitting among the rows dedicated to the honors students and chuckled at her screaming friend. Jessie then looked to her right, to the area dedicated to those graduating from the High Fliers and spotted Jacob, to whom she blew a kiss to. He laughed as he caught it, which also caused him to knock his dark blue cap off his head. Jessie laughed and shook her head as she moved to looked towards the stands, blue eyes searching for her family. She spotted them in the third row from the front, all three standing and cheering loudly for her. Her smiled widened as she locked eyes with her brother and proceeded to give him a wink as she began to walk off the stage. She saw him laugh and shake his head.

Lee