My parents died in a house fire when I was just a year old. That night, my grandpa became everything to me.<\/p>\n
I only survived because he ran back into the burning house and carried me out through the smoke.<\/p>\n
From then on, it was just the two of us.<\/p>\n
Even in his late sixties, he stepped in as both parent and protector. He packed my lunches, braided my hair, and never missed a single school event. When other girls practiced dances with their dads, Grandpa would practice with me in our kitchen.<\/p>\n
He used to joke, \u201cWhen your prom comes, I\u2019ll be the most handsome date there.\u201d<\/p>\n
But three years ago, he had a stroke that left the right side of his body paralyzed. The doctors said he was lucky to be alive \u2014 walking again wasn\u2019t possible.<\/p>\n
Now he uses a wheelchair.<\/p>\n
Even so, he never stopped being there for me.<\/p>\n
So when prom season came around and everyone started talking about dates, I didn\u2019t hesitate.<\/p>\n
I asked him.<\/p>\n
At first, he refused. He didn\u2019t want to embarrass me. But I reminded him of something he\u2019d always taught me:<\/p>\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t leave family behind.\u201d<\/p>\n
Last Friday, I wheeled him into the school gym. He wore his old navy suit, and I had on my prom dress.<\/p>\n
People clapped as we entered.<\/p>\n
Then Amber noticed us.<\/p>\n
She\u2019s been my rival since freshman year \u2014 always competing over grades, scholarships, everything. She walked up with her friends, took one look at my grandpa in his wheelchair\u2026 and laughed.<\/p>\n
\u201cWow. Did the nursing home lose a patient?\u201d<\/p>\n
The entire room went silent.<\/p>\n
I gripped the handles of his wheelchair, ready to turn around and leave.<\/p>\n
Amber smirked. \u201cProm is for dates\u2026 not charity cases.\u201d<\/p>\n
I was about to walk out.<\/p>\n
But before I could, my grandpa slowly wheeled himself toward the DJ booth, took the microphone\u2026<\/p>\n
\u2026and said five words that made Amber\u2019s face go completely pale.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"