She turned to Tammy again.
“And you thought this was acceptable?”
Tammy swallowed.
“I thought he loved me.”
“Can we not do this here?” the man groaned.
But it was far too late.
Brian’s mother grabbed her son’s hand.
“We’re leaving.”
As she dragged him toward the exit, Brian waved cheerfully.
“Bye, Melissa!”
Brian’s father rushed after them.
“Please listen! This is a misunderstanding!”
Tammy quietly slipped out behind them.
The gym buzzed with stunned conversation until the principal clapped his hands.
“Alright everyone,” he called. “Let’s focus on the graduates.”
Gradually the room settled again.
Melissa looked up at me.
“Daddy?”
“Yeah?”
“That was weird.”
I chuckled softly.
“Yeah… it really was.”
The ceremony
The graduation continued.
Kids lined up on stage while parents raised their phones to take photos.
One by one, names were called.
Then the teacher announced,
“Melissa.”
