moment neither of us spoke.
Then he looked down at the bouquet in my hands.
The white roses.
The flowers I had bought despite barely being able to afford them.
His eyes filled with tears.
“Mom.”
That single word nearly broke me.
I forced a smile.
“Go finish your ceremony, sweetheart.”
He shook his head.
“No.”
The microphone near the stage picked up his voice.
The entire auditorium heard it.
Daniel turned slowly toward the audience.
Then toward the front row.
Toward Richard.
Toward Vanessa.
And finally toward the seat
