The Most Beautiful Girl in School Invited My Son to Prom – I Thought She Wanted to Embarrass Him, but the Real Reason Left Me Speechless
“It’s just… it happened so fast. Are you sure she…?”
My son looked up at me, and the smile faded just a little.
“You think she’s playing a joke on me.”
I tried, once, to ask the one question I couldn’t stop turning over.
“I didn’t say that,” I tried, backtracking.
“You don’t have to.”
“Honey, I just want to protect you.”
“I know.” His voice was quiet. “But can you just be happy for me?”
I nodded. I couldn’t think of anything to say that wouldn’t make it worse.
The truth was that I kept imagining her playing some cruel prank on him that would leave him heartbroken.
***
Prom night came faster than I wanted it to. Nathan stood in the entryway in his suit, hair combed back, a small white corsage box trembling slightly in his hand. He looked older and, for the first time in years, as if he believed he belonged somewhere.
“You don’t have to.”
“How do I look?” Nathan asked.
“Like a heartbreaker,” I said, and he laughed.
A car pulled into the driveway, and through the window, I could see her. Madison. She had long dark hair, a dress the color of champagne, and was leaning against the passenger door as if she’d been waiting her whole life for him.
She waved at me through the glass. Polite, composed, smiling. I waved back, and my hand felt heavy.
“Be home by midnight,” I said.
“I will.”
He kissed my cheek.
