***
My mother came home that night smelling like the diner where she worked her second shift. I told her everything.
She sat down on the edge of my bed, took my hand, and looked at me for a long moment.
"You deserve a beautiful night, baby."
"What if it's a joke, Mama?"
"Then we'll know who he is. But you'll still know who you are."
Afterward, she pulled an old dress from the back of her closet and stayed up two nights altering it by hand under the kitchen lamp.
When Caleb arrived on prom night, he held out a corsage. His hands were shaking slightly. I noticed that.
"You look beautiful, Hannah."
"Thank you."
In the car he barely spoke. He kept glancing at his phone, then putting it face down on his leg. I told myself he was nervous. I told myself a lot of things.
The gym was loud and bright and full of staring faces.
Caleb took my hand and led me onto the floor. He danced with me like he meant it, eyes on mine, ignoring the whispers building around us like a wave.
Then a boy near the speakers cupped his hands around his mouth. "Did Caleb decide to host a charity event tonight?"
Laughter rippled across the room.
A girl I didn't even know shouted next. "Oh my God, did someone actually pay Caleb to do this?"
The wave broke over me. The lights felt suddenly too hot, the music too far away. I felt every pair of eyes like a needle.
"Caleb, I want to go. Please."
"Hannah, listen to me."
"I want to leave. Now."
He nodded quickly, his jaw tight, and put his hand on my back to guide me toward the doors. I kept my head down. The laughter chased us across the floor.
We were almost at the exit when the gym doors swung open from the other side.
Three police officers stepped inside, their boots heavy on the polished floor, and walked straight toward us.
The officers stopped directly in front of us.
The tallest one, his badge catching the gym lights, looked at Caleb with a careful expression.
"Sir, you need to come with us immediately."
My knees nearly gave out. I clutched Caleb's sleeve, my voice barely a whisper.
"What is happening? What did he do?"
The officer glanced at me, surprise flickering across his face. "So you have no idea what Caleb did?"
I turned to Caleb. He'd gone pale beside me. The whole gym had gone silent, phones lifted, eyes wide.
