A Gift From the Heart
That evening we visited a local salon.
When the owner heard Letty’s story, she became emotional.
She examined the hair carefully.
“This can absolutely help.”
Then she surprised us.
She offered to contribute additional donated hair and help arrange the wig at no cost.
By the time we left, Letty looked lighter than she had since her father’s death.
For days she talked excitedly about Millie.
Not because she wanted attention.
Not because she wanted praise.
Simply because she wanted her classmate to smile again.
A week later, the wig was ready.
It was beautiful.
Soft, natural-looking, and nearly identical to Letty’s original hair color.
When Letty carried the box to school, she looked nervous.
“What if she doesn’t like it?” she asked.
“She’ll love it,” I said.
“How do you know?”
“Because it came from your heart.”
She smiled.
Then she got out of the car and disappeared into the building.
I had no idea what would happen next.
The Phone Call
The following morning, my phone rang while I was making coffee.
The school’s number flashed across the screen.
Immediately my stomach dropped.
Ever since my husband’s illness, I expected bad news from every unexpected call.
I answered quickly.
“Hello?”
The principal’s voice sounded unusually tense.
“Mrs. Carter?”
“Yes.”
“I need you to come to the school immediately.”
My pulse jumped.
“What happened?”
There was a pause.
“It’s about Letty.”
My hands started shaking.
“Is she okay?”
“It would be better if you saw this yourself.”
Fear exploded inside me.
“Please tell me she’s okay.”
“She’s safe.”
“Then what’s going on?”
Another pause.
“You need to come now.”
The line disconnected.
I grabbed my keys and ran.
The Longest Drive of My Life
The drive to school took fifteen minutes.
It felt like fifteen hours.
Every terrible possibility raced through my mind.
Had Letty gotten into a fight?
Had someone bullied her?
Had she gotten hurt?
Had something happened because of the wig?
By the time I pulled into the parking lot, I could barely breathe.
The principal was waiting outside.
His expression was strange.
Not angry.
Not upset.
Almost stunned.
“Come with me,” he said.
“What happened?”
“You need to see.”
We walked quickly toward his office.
My heart hammered so hard I could hear it.
The principal opened the door.
I stepped inside.
