But I still had my energy—and Emma grew into a beautiful young lady.

She was kind and thoughtful. She never asked for much, even though I knew all her friends came from far better-off families.

Still, she somehow made thrifted clothes look up-to-date, and she told me she loved me constantly.

But I knew that all high school girls wanted to feel beautiful at one event: their senior prom.

A few weeks before it, I asked her if she planned to go. She shook her head and said softly, “Grandma, don’t worry. I don’t need to go. We can’t afford a  dress anyway. I already looked at Goodwill. Nothing will work.”