Next to her was a smiling girl in a red coat.
In the back, someone had written:
Dad, promise me you’ll keep making people smile.
Mom started crying.
The following Sunday, Mark came to dinner as usual.
At 7:50, he looked at his watch.
At 7:55, he stretched his hand toward his briefcase.
But this time, Mom got up and put on her coat.
Mark looked at her confused.
Where are you going?
She took her hand.
“With you.
His expression changed instantly.
For a moment, he couldn’t talk.
Then his eyes were filled with tears.
“You know that?”
Mom nodded.
“You don’t have to make excuses anymore.
That night, Mark walked into the spotlight with Mom next to him.
Emma went too.
And for the first time in years, when Sunday’s visiting hours ended, Mark didn’t go out alone.
