Her voice cracked in places. But it was real.
When she finished, the applause rose slowly, then fully.
Outside, light rain began to fall. Ethan grabbed both his parents’ hands. Michael opened an umbrella, then paused.
Olivia looked at him.
“Aren’t you going to use it?”
He smiled gently and closed it.
“No,” he said. “We don’t have to hide anymore.”
They walked into the rain together, laughing softly.
Some people don’t disappear.
Sometimes they’re just waiting for someone to stop… and truly see them.
