Full part: At six years old, I promised my best friend we would go to prom together. Twelve years later, on the night we were finally supposed to keep that promise, Mom locked my bedroom door and told me I could only go with him under one condition.

“Okay…”

“But only under one condition.”

I assumed she was about to give me the usual parent speech.

“No drinking? Home by midnight?”

“No.”

Her hands were trembling.

My smile faded.

“Then what?”

Mom walked over and sat on the edge of my bed.

“You have to hear something first.”

“Hear what?”

“The truth.”

My stomach tightened.

“What truth?”

She reached for both of my hands.

“Something about Noah.”

She paused.

“And something about me.”