Prom Night
The night arrived faster than I expected.
My mother curled my hair. My father took dozens of pictures. But the moment I remember most happened before we left.
Grandma was sitting in her favorite chair by the window.
When I stepped into the room wearing the finished dress, she looked up.
For a second she simply stared.
Then tears appeared in her eyes.
“You look beautiful.”
Her voice trembled.
“No,” I said. “The dress is beautiful.”
She shook her head.
“The girl wearing it makes it beautiful.”
I held her carefully. Her arms felt thinner than before. More fragile. Yet her embrace was as warm as ever.
As I left, she squeezed my hand.
“Have the best night of your life.”
I smiled.
“I will.”
I truly believed I would.
