At the theater, I found her near the backstage entrance adjusting a ribbon on her costume.
“You nervous?” I asked.
“A little.”
“You’ll be okay.”
She smiled.
Then, just before she joined the other dancers, she caught my hand.
“Mom?”
“Yes?”
Her eyes looked brighter than they had in weeks.
“Watch me.”
I squeezed her fingers.
“I will.”
Later, when Tessa stepped onto the stage under the lights, she searched the audience until she found us.
Graham lifted his hand.
I smiled.
And for the first time in months, our daughter smiled back before the music even started.
