However, one bus trip forced her to choose between her own happiness and helping others.Carly, a sixteen-year-old girl, lived with her mother, Dina, and grandmother, Holly, in a small, cozy apartment. Life had never been particularly easy for the family. Money was always tight, and they often had to make sacrifices to get by.
But despite their financial struggles, the three of them shared a deep bond that made the tough times a little more bearable. They had love, and to Carly, that love meant everything. Today, however, was different.
Carly could feel the air buzzing with excitement.Prom was just around the corner, and though she hadn’t said much about it, she had secretly been dreaming of wearing a beautiful dress to feel like she belonged.
Everyone at school had been talking about their extravagant outfits and fancy plans, and Carly had tried to hide her disappointment, knowing that her family couldn’t afford anything like that. But this morning, something special happened. Dina and Holly called Carly into the kitchen, where they were both smiling warmly.The smell of freshly brewed coffee filled the room, and the sunlight streamed through the window, giving the moment a cozy glow. Dina motioned for Carly to sit down, her eyes sparkling.
“We know how important your prom is to you,” Dina began softly, her voice filled with affection. “We’ve been saving up, and though it’s not much, we want you to have something special.” Carly blinked in surprise as her grandmother slid an envelope across the table toward her. Curious, she opened it and saw several bills tucked neatly inside.Her breath caught in her throat. It wasn’t a fortune, but it was more than enough to buy a beautiful dress. Tears of gratitude filled her eyes as she looked up at the two women who had done everything they could to make her feel special.“Thank you, Mom. Thank you, Grandma,” Carly whispered, her voice thick with emotion. “I can’t believe you did this for me.”Holly reached out and gently squeezed Carly’s hand.
