My chest began to tighten. Small, thin papercuts dove for my heart as I looked at all the mothers and fathers and siblings. I spotted Sabrina’s dad in the balcony to the left, in front of the windows. While Mia’s mom and dad and sisters and brothers sat just a few rows to the right of them. “Adelaide!” The shout swiveled my focus to the right, where in the first row of the balcony stood a group of women flailing their arms with excitement. Iris, Dotty, Cora, Evelyn, Jane, Beatrice, Lottie, Maureen. And Auntie Laila. They were holding cards. For me. She came all the way here, for me. My entire
...more