I wish I could say I shouted back, threw something, or defended myself.
But I didn’t.
Her hands were shaking.
I walked straight past Lydia, the crowd, the bucket, and into the restroom. I locked the door and sat there until the ceremony started.
My mom never mentioned what happened.
Not that day. Not ever.
But I never forgot it.
***
Eighteen years passed.
Life has a strange way of moving forward, whether you want it to or not.
I worked hard, finished college on scholarships, and eventually started a small community foundation.
Initially, it was a local program, but over time, it grew into something bigger than I’d ever expected.
