A few minutes later she spun out of her bedroom, twirling.

“I look like a princess!” she squealed.

I hugged her tightly.

“The fabric came from Mommy’s handkerchiefs,” I told her.

Her eyes lit up.

“So Mommy helped make it?”

“In a way, yes.”

She hugged me again. “I love it.”

That moment made every sleepless night worth it.

Graduation day arrived warm and bright.

Parents filled the school gym while children ran around in colorful outfits.

Melissa held my hand as we walked in.

“You nervous?” I asked.

“A little.”

“You’ll do great.”

She proudly smoothed the skirt of her dress.

Several parents smiled when they noticed it.

Then suddenly a woman wearing huge designer sunglasses stepped in front of us.

She looked Melissa up and down and laughed loudly.

“Oh wow,” she said to the people around her. “Did you actually make that dress?”

“I did,” I answered calmly.

She smirked.

“You know, some families could give her a real life. Maybe adoption would be better.”

The gym fell silent.

continue to the next page.”