So I went.
She helped me into my dress. Helped me into my chair. Helped me into the gym, where I spent the first hour parked near the wall pretending I was okay.
People came by in waves.
“You look amazing.”
“I’m so glad you came.”
“We should take a picture.”
Then they drifted back to the dance floor. Back to motion. Back to normal life.
Then Marcus walked over.
He stopped in front of me and smiled.
“Hey.”
I glanced behind me because I genuinely thought he meant someone else.
He noticed and gave a soft laugh. “No, definitely you.”
“That’s brave,” I said.
He tilted his head. “You hiding over here?”