My heart dropped, as it always does when the finances don’t match up. I work two jobs to keep food on the table and the utilities paid. There’s little left for extras.
“It’s gorgeous, sweetheart,” I said, wiping my hands on my apron. “Truly beautiful.”
Liora’s smile dimmed slightly… that soft disappointment kids hide when they know their parents can’t agree.
“I know it’s costly,” she said quietly. “I was just… wishing.”
That night, after Liora went to bed, I sat at the kitchen table, staring at that dress again on her phone.
The fabric, the glow, the design… it felt familiar. When I was younger than Liora, my mom taught me to sew. Back then, sewing wasn’t a fun activity — it was how we survived.
