THE WHISPERS CHANGED
Minutes earlier—
they had been weapons.
Now they carried the truth.
I looked past Ethan.
The boy who had filmed him walking across the stage slowly lowered his phone.
A girl near the aisle began crying.
Another student stared at the floor.
Then I saw someone standing near the back wall.
Ben.
Ethan’s best friend.
I hadn’t known he had come.
His face was pale.
He started toward us.
Ethan noticed him.
Stood.
For several seconds—
neither spoke.
Ben looked at the red dress.
Then the flower.
“I didn’t know.”
Ethan’s expression hardened.
“You didn’t ask.”
Ben swallowed.
“I thought…”
“What?”
“I thought you were making some kind of statement.”
Ethan looked down at Mary’s dress.
“I was.”
Ben frowned.
“Just not the one you decided I was making.”
Ben’s eyes filled.
“I’m sorry.”
Ethan didn’t immediately say it was okay.
