And I danced with my mom.
She rested her head on my shoulder, whispering, “I never thought I’d get this.”
“You always deserved it,” I said.
Across the room, I saw Brianna sitting alone, scrolling her phone, her glitter dress suddenly looking cheap.
Mike stood beside her.
“You okay?” he asked quietly.
She shrugged. “I didn’t think it would be like this.”
“No,” he said. “You didn’t think.”
Later that night, as we walked out under the stars, my mom squeezed my hand.
“Thank you,” she said. “For letting me feel like I mattered.”
I looked at her—this woman who gave up everything and never once asked for applause.
“You didn’t just matter,” I said. “You were the reason.”
And for the first time in her life—She got her prom.
