At 6, I Promised My Best Friend We’d Go to Prom Together—12 Years Later, Mom Set One Condition.

Her expression changed again.

“Come upstairs with me.”

“What?”

“One minute.”

“Mom, Ethan’s waiting.”

“I know.”

Ethan lifted the corsage proudly.

“I have this.”

I smiled.

“What flowers?”

“Rosemary.”

I paused.

“Rosemary?”

“The florist said it means remembering.”

He looked very pleased.

“And I remember promises.”

My smile softened.

Behind me—

Mom made a tiny sound.

When I looked at her, her eyes were wet.

“Mom?”

“Upstairs.”

This time—

she wasn’t asking.

SHE LOCKED THE BEDROOM DOOR

“Okay.”

I stared at her.

“You’re officially frightening me.”

Mom faced me.

“You can go with Ethan tonight.”

I folded my arms.

“If this is about him having Down syndrome—”

“No.”

“Because I’m eighteen.”

“I know.”

“He’s my best friend.”

“I know that too.”

“Then what exactly is happening?”

Mom sat.

“Do you remember when your father left?”

That was not the question I expected.

“What does Dad have to do with Ethan?”

“Nothing directly.”

“Then why—”

“Something happened that year.”

I stopped.