When Lila returned home hours later with empty hands and tear-streaked cheeks, her mom met her at the door.
“Where’s the dress?” Rachel asked, concern instantly replacing her smile.
Lila hesitated. “I… gave the money away.”
“To who?”
She told them about the man. About his daughter in the hospital. About the fine. About how no one else on that bus had stood up.
Rachel’s expression twisted with frustration. “Lila, that was everything we had! You were finally going to have your night!”
“I know,” Lila whispered. “But… if it had been me in the hospital, you would’ve done anything to get to me, right?”
Her mom didn’t answer. She just turned away and disappeared into the kitchen.
But Grandma June stepped closer. She didn’t speak right away. She simply wrapped her arms around Lila.
“You did something beautiful,” she said at last. “Even if nobody else sees it right now.”
