One month has passed.

INT. GIRLS DORM ROOM/DAY BEFORE GRADUATION

Cat, Colins, and Kristen are all sitting in their dorm room, piled on Kristen’s bed. They are talking about graduation day.   Annabelle is lying on her own bed; she isn’t chatting with the others and appears to be depressed.

KRISTEN

I can’t believe we are about to graduate from this place.  I guess we are going to have to start figuring out what to do with our lives.

CAT

I’m just relieved that we don’t have to listen to Miss Bradley’s boring commencement speech this year…

Cat makes this statement in Annabelle’s direction, another cutting jab meant to bring pain to Annabelle and an attempt to reveal the secret that Annabelle has kept close to her heart.

COLINS

Why don’t you just shut up!!!

Colins speaks loudly and emphasizes her words for Annabelle’s benefit as she stomps away from Kristen’s bed and throws herself onto her own.

Cat glares after Colins, speechless.  Colins has grown strong, defending her friend and herself.  Cat is shocked by this development.  Annabelle continues to lay on her bed, seemingly in a daze, still saying nothing to her classmates.

INT.   STUDENT UNION /COMMENCEMENT DAY

Annabelle is dressed in her cap and gown, standing in front of her campus mailbox. She retrieves a blue envelope.   It’s the size of a greeting card, and has no return address

“Another graduation card!” she thinks to herself. 

She goes through the obligatory motions opening the envelope.  The card simply has the word “Congratulations” printed on the front.  When Annabelle opens the card, she sees that the inside is blank and not signed, but something gold and glistening drops to the floor in front of her feet. She kneels and picks up the delicate gold chain and immediately recognizes the tiny cross attached. Annabelle grasps the necklace tightly in her hand as a smile breaks across her face. She is relieved and exhilarated as the weight that she has carried all these weeks lifts from her expression.

EXT. COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY/COURTYARD

Annabelle and her classmates are sitting patiently listening to the end of the speech. A loud voice shouts, “Congratulations to the class of 2006!”  Caps are simultaneously thrown in the air.

EXT.BEACHHOUSE/NEAR SUNSET

Simone sits on the beach, gazing thoughtfully out over the water at the sinking sun.  Her eyes reflect the uncertainty she feels.  She sits, leaning to her left side, her arm extended behind her in the sand.

Close up on Simone’s left hand.

A feminine finger reaches out and slowly traces across the top of Simone’s hand.  Simone recognizes the familiar touch.

Close up of Simone’s expression.

Simone’s eyes slowly close as she feels Annabelle’s presence.  

The camera pulls back to reveal Annabelle behind Simone as she wraps her arms around Simone’s waist, burying her head in her neck.

FADE OUT

THE END