Confrontation in the Empty Hallway
I found Ethan standing alone by the rows of lockers, the crimson dress shimmering under the fluorescent glare.
“Explain yourself,” I demanded, voice raw, the tissue still clutched in my hand.
He turned, eyes steady, and took a breath that seemed to carry years of grief.
“Mom, the dress was a distraction,” he said, his voice low. “I’ve been raising money for a surgery—one that could save the baby Lily was expecting before she passed.”
He pulled out a small card from the seam, showing a QR code. “People scan it, they donate. The dress draws eyes, the code draws funds.”
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