I never thought I would see Marcus

Before the crash, my life had been ordinary in the best possible way. I worried about grades. I worried about boys. I worried about how I’d look in prom pictures.

Afterward, I worried about being seen at all.

By the time prom approached, I told my mom I wasn’t going.

She stood in my doorway, holding the dress bag, and said gently, “You deserve one night.”

“I deserve not to be stared at.”

“Then stare back.”