My prom dress stayed untouched while I faced a stage 3 diagnosis—until my date did something at prom that changed my life forever.

Just quieter.

Heads turned.

Conversations paused.

People noticed.

Of course they noticed.

Some looked sad.

Some looked shocked.

Some quickly looked away when they realized I’d caught them staring.

My face burned.

I wanted to disappear.

I wanted to run straight back to the parking lot.

The pity was worse than I imagined.

I felt exposed.

Fragile.

Broken.

A few friends continue reading …