But Dad didn’t notice. He just handed me my food with a smile and reminded me to eat. His kindness in that moment made the cruelty around us feel small. Prom night came soon after. Dad had been so excited for the father-daughter dance. He dressed in his best shirt and even scrubbed his hands raw trying to get them clean. But when we walked onto the dance floor, Taylor shouted again, mocking him. The room fell into an uneasy silence.
