“Ethan just smiled and told me it was okay.”
For a moment, Caleb couldn't continue.
Then he whispered:
“He said, ‘I know exactly how short it is.’”
I closed my eyes.
My son had known more about his condition than I realized.
And he'd chosen to spend one of his remaining afternoons trying to make his best friend laugh.
Caleb explained that the dare had started as a joke.
His older sister, Jasmine, owned the red dress.
She'd worn it to a graduation party.
Ethan spotted it hanging behind Caleb during a video call.
He laughed.
“Bet you wouldn't wear that outside.”
Caleb immediately refused.
Ethan grinned.
“Not even for me?”
“Absolutely not.”
“Coward.”
They laughed.
Then Ethan became serious.
“I'm not really asking you to wear a dress, Caleb.”
Caleb frowned.
“Then what are you asking?”
Ethan looked toward the window.
“I'm asking you to stop caring so much about what strangers think.”
