A single choice could completely change the future. In Hazel Dixon's case, it was a simple decision to create more social media pages to advertise her art. Someone on Tumblr recommended posting on Instagram and Facebook as well. That eventually led to creating a Patreon page.
She had a few followers who were fairly consistent about liking and commenting but if.theres.a.will.theres.a.way was probably her biggest fan. He followed her on every platform, had the highest tier on Patreon, and commissioned her to draw him things every time her commissions were open.
They chatted fairly often because he was always commenting on everything she posted. She didn't know anything about him other than his first name. Will. His username was a pun.
It was more creative than hers. lilmisstopaz was a reference to Billy's eyes.
Will reminded Hazel a lot of Billy, since Will was so supportive of her art. Far more so than any of her other followers.
She was still anxiously waiting for Billy to come back and take her away. Her senior year of high school had been going by especially slowly because she had been convinced for years that he would come as soon as she was legally free from her uncle. Why else wouldn't Billy have come sooner?
With how much she was missing him, she ended up drawing him a lot. Not wanting to seem obsessive to her followers, though she knew she was, she only posted her favorite. A colored pencil drawing of the two of them lying on their backs in the grass as he reached toward the stars, talking as she listened intently.
Hazel missed Billy so much that it hurt! She had been going crazy, wondering where he was and how he had been doing all these years.
A comment from Will came in almost as soon as she posted it. 'This might be my favorite work of yours yet. What was the inspiration?'
She never talked about Billy. He felt like a precious secret she had to keep from her uncle.
But this was different, wasn't it? Will was a stranger on the internet. Telling him wouldn't get back to her uncle.
'This is a drawing of a precious memory from when I was a kid. The boy is my best friend. I lost track of him not long after this but he promised he would come back for me if we were ever separated. I'm waiting for him to come get me after I graduate so we can live our dreams together'
Was that way more information than Will asked for? Yes. But Hazel had typed it out and sent it without thinking, bursting to tell somebody.
'After you graduate, huh? Why then?'
'He's three years older than me. It makes the most sense that he'd wait until my legal guardian can't do anything about it'
She sent a second message in embarrassment. 'Sorry. Too much info. I never get to talk about him so I guess I went overboard since I can't wait to see him again'
'Don't apologize. I'm always happy to listen about whatever is on your mind' Will replied with a smiley face emoji.
Hazel was relieved that her oversharing hadn't put him off. She didn't want to lose her best patron.
'Thanks Will. I appreciate it!'
She ended the conversation there before she could embarrass herself further. She shouldn't have let her impatience get the better of her like that.
Three more months. There were just three more months until she would be free and Billy could come for her!
They ended up being horrendously long. Hazel had to pick a college to attend, so her uncle wouldn't give her a hard time, and decided to stay local so Billy would know where to find her. She would transfer to wherever he lived in a heartbeat if necessary.
She was ready to leave at a moment's notice after graduation. She had been waiting for him for the past ten years of her life.
Walking in graduation felt like a waste since her uncle wouldn't even be there. He had a business trip. All he cared about was work.
It wasn't that Hazel cared about him being there as much as it would be annoying to ask someone else to take a picture of her with her diploma. It wasn't the sort of thing her mom would have done since she used to scrapbook.
She was bored the entire ceremony and planned to leave as soon as she got a picture taken. She was looking around, trying to find someone she knew, when she saw a young man with curly blonde hair and a bouquet of flowers waving. She didn't think he was waving at her until he called her name.
"Hazel! Over here!"
Confused, Hazel went over. Her name wasn't very common. He must be talking to her.
"Can I help you?" she asked politely.
A hauntingly familiar lopsided grin crossed his face as he held out the flowers. "Happy graduation day, Hazel! I didn't think it would be right for me to miss it, since you've waited so patiently."
Hazel's hand flew to her mouth as it hit her. That smile. Those golden eyes.
Did Billy really come for her at last? How had he even known when her graduation was?!
"…Billy?"
He nodded. "I go by Will now, but—"
He was cut off by Hazel throwing herself into his arms. He came. Just like she always knew he would.
Somehow, he managed to be here exactly when she needed him, so she didn't have to be the only graduate who was completely alone. She barely stopped herself from bursting into tears so her mascara wouldn't run.
"How did you know I would be here?!"
Billy—Will—hugged her tightly. "I looked you up, of course. It wasn't hard to find your graduation date once I knew where you went to school."
"Oh, I'm so glad to see you!"
"And I'm so glad to hear your voice. We have a lot to catch up on. Can I buy you dinner to celebrate?"