I stopped measuring my worth by other people’s reactions.
My scars were still there.
They always would be.
But they no longer felt like an apology.
They were evidence.
Evidence that I had survived.
And Caleb?
He became one of the people who remained in my life.
Not because he had saved me.
He hadn’t.
I had saved myself.
He had simply been brave enough to stand beside me when I needed someone.
Years later, he reminded me of that night.
“You know what I remember most?”
“What?”
“You were shaking before we danced.”
I laughed.
“I was terrified.”
“You looked terrified.”
“And you still asked?”
He smiled.
“I was terrified too.”
“Of what?”
He looked at me.
“That you’d say no.”
I laughed.
“You were afraid of me?”
“Very.”
I shook my head.
“I wish I could go back and tell that girl something.”
“What?”
“That she didn’t need anyone to choose her.”
He nodded.
“But I’m glad someone did.”
I smiled.
“So am I.”
He held out his hand.
Just like he had that night.
“Dance?”
I looked around.
There was no music.
No decorated ballroom.
No classmates watching.
No cameras.
Just the two of us.
I took his hand.
