Maya reached over and took Emily’s hand.
Emily squeezed it.
“Maya was scared to come back to school looking different.”
Then Maya whispered something into the microphone.
“So Emily asked if I wanted her to cut hers too.”
Tears filled my eyes.
Emily touched the short hair above her ear.
“I said yes.”
Suddenly, everything became clear.
No one had forced Emily to cut her hair.
No one had attacked her.
My daughter had willingly cut off the hair she loved because her friend was terrified of facing school alone.
Emily continued.
“Grandma came when we called. She stayed with us the whole time.”
Her voice trembled.
“So tonight, she’s who I want to thank.”
The auditorium fell completely silent.
Then applause broke out.
I was crying before I even realized it.
Near the side aisle, the three girls who had been whispering stood up and tried to leave.
