"You did it!!" Charlie's cheerful greeting fit the occasion perfectly.

Ryder finished his Masters degree, with honors.

He did it.

Charlie's parents were hosting a party for him, Charlie and Hannah were there, of course. And Dave.

Hope was trotting around, charming all the guests, she just loved the attention. They invited some of his fellow students and the band of course, the house was full of life. People walked in and out, the buffet with the food was inside, but people were outside in the garden, sitting at tables here and there. Everybody was talking and laughing.

Charlie hit his glas decisively.

He was going to make a speech for his friend.

"Everybody quiet down" he yelled out humorously.

All eyes were on him. Ryder's too. He picked up Hope and put her on his lap.

"My best friend...my oldest friend! Congrats! You did it...you finished your Masters, you got the job, I know you are going to make millions breaking things and putting them back together!" He said, and people started laughing.

Ryder was offered a job with a large corporation and he already accepted their offer, securing Hope's future. And his.

It felt good. Everything was falling into place, he finished his degree, he got a job. He was still living in the guest house with Hope, they had no plans to move just yet. She was thriving, reaching every milestone on her path. Skylar would have been so proud of her...he hugged her tightly.

He was here because of Skylar, she pushed him to do better, he finally felt comfortable in his own skin.

Finally.

He just wish she could have been there to see it.

Charlie's voice brought him back.

"Everybody raise your glasses, let's toast to Ryder!...Hope...and Skylar!" He raised his glass and winked at Ryder.

They all yelled out:

"To Ryder!...To Hope!...To Skylar!" And as they said her name, he looked up at the night sky. The stars were shining so bright, he felt perfectly safe underneath that beautiful sky, knowing somewhere...up there Skylar was looking down at them, smiling.

If anything, he believed in that!

That was his truth. His comfort. His reality.

Hope pointed up, following his stare...

"Mommy..." she said in her own cute little voice.

He nodded.

"Yes...that's right Hope...Mommy is up there, watching us".

And they both waved, waved at the sky above.

The party went on all night, they were laughing and eating and drinking and playing and dancing and singing!

Because no matter what, life goes on.

That's just life.

It caters to no one, but it invites you in - to live the good and the bad - it will make you feel every emotion possible. Sometimes it makes perfect sense, sometimes it will feel unfair and you will struggle understanding the meaning of it all. But it's there...your life has purpose, or else you wouldn't have been here in the first place, right?

Sometimes we get our way, sometimes we don't.

You are forced to get up and go.

You might fall down, you might have to turn around and find new roads to walk or run or crawl!

You will move forward and maybe take a step back, or get pushed to the side. You'll turn corners and climb huge hills and avoid tiny bumps along the way. Sometimes you will feel like giving up, please don't. Even when it hurts.

Keep going.

We never know where life might take us, that's the true beauty of it all. All the different stories we get to live and meet. We learn every step of the way.

So keep going, please. Even when it seems too hard, unbearable even.

Because: If you can keep up, it's bound to be a beautiful ride...........