A Prom Night Disaster
She wiped away her tears as the principal continued yelling at her. The security guard was already dragging her out of the premises, begging her to comply.
But how could she when they had singled her out from a crowd of 500 students?
She speed-dialed her dad’s number. If they wanted war, she’d give them one they’d never forget.
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A Tough Month
It had been a difficult month for Macy, who felt like nothing was going her way. A senior in high school, she lived her life like many girls her age.
She had a small circle of friends she adored, a school crush she’d have given anything to muster the courage to talk to, and the urge to ace all her classes.
But this didn’t mean Macy was like many of her peers.
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Her Biggest Worry
Where most sixteen-year-olds are worried about what college they’ll attend or who they’ll go to prom with, Macy’s interests dwelled elsewhere.
A daughter to a navy seal, she rarely saw her dad, if ever. She’d only been with him for a few months in the last five years, all sparsely spread out in short weekly periods.
With everything within her, she hoped he’d be around to at least see her in her prom dress.
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Her Mom
Macy and her dad had always had a special relationship. After losing her mom at birth, she became her dad’s favorite human. From his accounts, her mom had the biggest plans for her.
She wanted to spend time gossiping with her the way moms and daughters did, wanted to take her to the mall on ice cream runs, and to get their hair done.
But sadly, Macy never knew such a reality.
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Having A Wonderful Heart
Given her dad’s occupation, she spent most of her life with her paternal grandparents in Tampa, Florida. She grew into a bright, respectful, and brave young lady, hoping to make everyone proud.
To her, prom night was all about celebrating who she was. She wanted to show her love for culture while also giving the nod to her late mom.
She had no idea it would all come crashing down on her.
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The Red Dress
Macy started preparing weeks before her big night. With her grandma’s endless knowledge of fashion design and sewing, she was able to pinpoint the perfect dress she’d wear to the event.
The gown was a beautiful red Cheongsam dress. Macy and her grandma spent hours planning the details, from the color to the silks and brocade they’d use.
But the dress would bring nothing but pain.
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Rules And Regulations
Prom night was right around the corner, and Macy’s dress was coming out great.
The school had instructed a simple but elegant dress code, asking the attendees to refrain from wearing anything too revealing or inappropriate.
Macy ensured her gown fitted the requirements. She didn’t want her night to be ordinary. Little did she know it would all end in tears.
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At The Door
The big night came, and Macy and her friends jumped into her grandma’s station wagon, ready to have the time of their lives.
The drive was short; before the girls knew it, they were standing before their school’s massive double doors.
A few teachers lined the 90s-themed entrance next to some parent volunteers. Macy’s grandma dropped the girls off and drove off after wishing them an eventful night.
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A Voice
The girls quickly got to business, Macy leading them through the doors. But they weren’t five steps into the building when someone called her name.
The voice was gruff and heavy with authority, shooting a cold rush up her spine. She froze in place.
Her eyes turned to her friends, who were just as still as her. Only one person could inspire such fear.
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The Principal
“Miss. Everett,” the principal, Mr. Johnson, called again. His black suit sheened under the blue and green hall lights, making him appear as ominous and deadly as most students believed he was.
Standing at seven feet, he usually towered over everyone while walking down the school hall.
“A word,” he seethed, pointing to the side where his office awaited hungrily. Macy nodded and handed her clutch bag to one of her friends. She hoped everything was okay.
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Her Relationship With The Administration
Macy had rarely gotten in trouble at school. In her years as a junior, she’d only been in detention once.
She had a great relationship with the school faculty, whether teachers or non-teaching staff. So when the principal asked her into the office, she didn’t think much of it.
An A-student in computer studies, she was the go-to person for most teachers who needed help with their phones and laptops. She was wrong to think that was the case here.
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Where Did You Get This?
“A seat, Miss. Everett,” Mr. Johnson said with his gaze sweeping Macy from her neck down to her feet. He tilted his head, his eyes keen on her dress.
“Where did you get that dress?” he asked, and Macy happily answered. “I made it myself. Well, my grandma helped.”
She wasn’t sure what was going on but still maintained a smile as she explained everything to her grandma and she went through making the gown. If she only knew what was going on inside the principal’s head.
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A Quick Complement
Mr. Johnson complimented the dress, telling Macy that it was thoughtful of her to include her grandma in its making. But that was the extent of his compliments.
His face fell almost immediately, the fascination in his eyes turning into pure malice as his smile faded.
What he said had Macy springing to her feet.
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Is This A Joke?
“I saw your grandma dropping you off a minute ago,” he stated calmly. “I bet she’s still in the neighborhood. How about you call her to come to pick you up?”
Macy stood. Was the principal joking? She tried to grin, thinking this was a joke.
But Mr. Johnson’s lips did not curl. He stared her dead in the eyes and offered her a different choice.
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He’s Serious
“Your grandma can come to pick you up, or she can go home and bring you a change of clothes,” Mr. Johnson said. It took Macy a minute to realize that the man was serious.
The weight of his words began sinking through her skin. It permeated with a sickly force that sapped all the energy from her body.
Why was Mr. Johnson doing this to her and tonight of all nights?
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Please, Don’t Do This
“Why?” Macy stammered. “Why are you doing this?” Her dress abided by every rule in the school’s dress code.
She’d even ensured that the thigh slit, common in most Cheongsam dresses, didn’t go past her midnight.
Her eyes cast down to the red gown, and she whirled around, trying to see if anything was wrong. Mr. Johnson, still staring at her, would clarify his intentions.
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His Reasons
“We are an all-inclusive educational institution,” he began. “We respect every child that passes through our hands regardless of race, gender, orientation, or any related backgrounds.”
He sat in his chair, slowly swiveling with his fingers steepled before him. “A Cheongsam dress is a piece of timeless culture, Miss. Everett.
Do you, by any chance, have any relatives from China?”
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No Buts
Macy had to stifle a sigh when she heard Mr. Johnson’s reason for calling out her dress.
Her heartbeat slowed down, and she got ready to prove that wearing the dress wasn’t wrong on her part.
“Well, sir,” she said confidently. “I don’t have any direct relatives from there, but….” Mr. Johnson lifted one of his hands. “But nothing, Miss Everett,” he said. “No blood relation, no dress.”
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The Heartbreaking Decision
“What?” Macy mumbled. “I spent weeks making this dress, I.” “The rules are clear, Miss. Everett. The night is still young. Just hurry home, change your dress, and come back.”
Macy took a shaky step back. The way Mr. Johnson talked made her feel like he was giving her a choice.
But having spent time under his leadership as principal, she knew that wasn’t the case.
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Nothing’s Going Her Way
But how could she go home and change when she’d given this dress everything? She didn’t have anything in her closet that matched the night’s criteria and knew she’d never find a suitable dress this late at night.
She thought about the texts she’d sent her dad earlier that day, promising him photos from her prom.
He’d wanted to be the one to drive her to the event but sadly couldn’t. And now this was happening.
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The Truth Behind Her And Her Dad
Although Macy and her dad rarely saw each other in person, they always talked over video and phone calls.
Macy always sent him photos from her daily life, ensuring he was always in the loop. Given the nature of his occupation, she was in constant fear for his life.
She didn’t want him to miss anything happening on her end. At the start of the month, her dad had promised to take some time off work to come. He meant to be there for her prom. Everything was going great until trouble struck.
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Canceled Plans
Macy and her dad had made plans to drive to prom night together. But at the start of the final week, he got called into work, forcing them to cancel their month-long plans.
Macy was beyond crushed, but the good daughter that she was, she promised to send as many pictures as her phone could take.
Her dad also assured her he’d make it home as soon as his mission was over. But as with everything else, their plans would not see the light of day.
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Be Pragmatic
Macy fidgeted before the Principal, on the verge of tears.
She had never shed a tear before anyone other than her grandparents. She wasn’t about to start now.
Knowing that the best way to handle this situation was to at least try and meet the principal halfway, she thought of a way to ensure every concerned party went home happy.
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Meeting Him Halfway
“You’re quiet,” the principal said. “I need to know that you understand what I am saying. Cultural appropriation is nothing to scoff at.”
Macy nodded. But instead of turning to leave, she stepped toward the principal’s desk and said, “But is it alright if I take a few photos for my dad?
He’s not around, and I promised to send a few.” She hoped the principal would at least hear her out.
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A Moot Point
Macy explained how much she’d been anticipating this night.
She even told Mr. Johnson about her dad being unable to make it and how her dress was to pay homage to her late mom.
“Was your mom Chinese?” the principal asked mockingly. “No,” Macy answered. “But she was a designer back in the day, and worked with a few Chinese fashion houses in Beijing.” “That changes nothing, Miss. Everett,” the principal answered.
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A Few Snaps
Macy turned around and walked away, her heart throbbing and her sight blurred from stemmed tears. There was no way she could disobey her principal.
But she thought about salvaging the situation with a few photos for her dad. One or two snaps on her way out of the building wouldn’t hurt anyone.
She should have known that was a bad idea.
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Taking The Pictures
Wiping her eyes, so no one in the hallway knew she was upset, Macy fished out her phone and asked one of her friends to take some photos.
She’d already told them that she had to rush home, knowing she wouldn’t be coming back.
But she’d barely taken the first five pictures when Principal Johnson strode out of his office. His jaw ticking, he asked Macy why she was still on school property.
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Calling Security
“I’m just taking a few photos for my dad, then I’ll leave,” she answered quickly and respectfully. But instead of giving her the minute or so she’d need to see her activity through, the principal waved over the security guard.
“Please escort Miss. Everett here out of school grounds,” he said. “She needs to respect other people’s cultures.
We don’t condone any form of appropriation in this institution, and I hope she understands that.”
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A Sheet Of Paper
The security guard was kind enough to ask Macy if she had all the photos she needed. But as they slowly walked through the hall, the principal stepped in, handing Macy a warm sheet of freshly printed paper.
Her eyes perused it, the words ‘two-week suspension’ catching her eye.
“Your dress is offensive,” he said. “Putting aside the fact that it appropriates another culture, which is disrespectful in itself, that slit right there will cause a stir at the dance. We don’t want the boys to be having impure thoughts.”
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And So It Begins
“What?” Macy asked. How was she getting suspended for a simple dress? To make matters worse, she got all this treatment when she obeyed the principal’s order.
The tears she’d been holding off since the start of this entire debacle finally broke through her lashes. She dashed them away, speed-dialing her dad’s number.
She should have known that he was already on his way on a surprise visit.
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A 15-Hour Flight
John, Macy’s dad, had spent the last fifteen hours on a flight home, eager to surprise her at prom. He hoped to reach the house before she left so he could be the one to drive her.
Since he’d disappointed her once, he didn’t share the news about his visit.
But due to bad weather, he found himself stranded at the airport, waiting for a flight he wasn’t sure was leaving anymore.
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It’s A Parental Thing
But a few hours into the wait and the weather cleared. John could feel something calling to him, urging him to get home as fast as he could.
He missed his daughter dearly and thought this was because of it.
But as he would soon find out, this was about something more sinister. All hell would break loose when he uncovered the truth behind Macy’s school.
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Touch Down
The fifteen hours of flight time couldn’t end fast enough, and John practically bolted off the plane once it touched down in Tampa.
It was nightfall, so Macy must’ve already left for her big night.
John hopped into the first cab in sight, hunkering down for another thirty minutes on the road. So close, yet so far, he thought.
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Home At Last
The cab pulled before his mom’s house an hour past nine. But his mom’s wagon was nowhere to be seen.
Knowing she’d probably driven Macy to school, John took his bags inside and jumped into a quick shower.
He’d left his phone in the living room, and the shower water and his chaotic bathroom singing masked the device’s insistent wails as Macy’s calls and texts came in.
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Text Messages And Missed Calls
John was having a change of clothes when the phone rang again. He hurried to it, his brows knitting as he registered the caller.
“Macy,” he whispered as he scooped up the phone. But the call cut. He unlocked the device, and it presented seven text messages and five missed calls from his daughter.
A clear indication that something was terribly wrong.
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Their Rules
John and Macy always had a simple rule regarding phone calls. If one or the other called once and the call went to voicemail, they could try again.
If the second call didn’t go through, whoever was calling would know the other person was away from their phone, and they should try again in an hour or two.
But there was an exception to this rule.
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The Exception
The exception to the rule was also very simple. The caller was allowed a third try if their issue was dire. This third call was only for emergencies that demanded immediate attention.
But today, Macy had left five calls accompanied by seven text messages. John didn’t even need to read the messages to spring into action.
He already knew that he needed to get to his girl.
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Walking Home
Macy sent her dad one last text as she started her long walk home. The road was empty, save for a few cars that zoomed by. She walked in tears, wondering why the principal had ruined her night.
She was glad her dad wasn’t around to see her in such a mess. She was supposed to be strong-willed like him, not breaking down at such inconveniences.
That was when the black car screeched before her.
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He’s Here
As the door swung open, Macy froze in place. A large military boot stepped out of the passenger seat, and Macy had to choke back a cry.
Her dad stood before her, taller than Mr. Johnson could dream of being. The age lines on his face were more pronounced due to his worry.
But one thing was clear. He’d received her messages.
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Skin Of Steel
John and Macy had shared some heartfelt moments, like every time they talked about Macy’s late mom. But in each of those moments, Macy had never shed a tear.
She always seemed hopeful no matter how bad things were.
So John couldn’t understand what was so bad that his daughter was drenched in tears and walking alone in the dead of night.
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Talking
He sat her in the car and held her as she cried. He could barely stay in control, seeing how hurt she was. When she’d cooled somewhat, he listened to her story. The idea behind her dress more than touched John. He found it more sentimental than even she did.
Something that reminded him of his late Annie, Macy’s mom, always moved his heart.
How could the principal insist that a dress meant to celebrate life was a form of cultural appropriation?
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Going Back To School
John had hitchhiked the car when he couldn’t find a taxi to Macy’s school. He requested the driver to drop them back at the high school, and the man happily obliged.
It wasn’t long before John marched down the hallway with Macy by his side.
The man who made his daughter cry would know his wrath.
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Going In
He didn’t knock on Principal Johnson’s door, only pushed it open and stepped in.
He found the principal standing on the other side of his desk, his attention drawn out the window where a few students were running around.
Startled, the man whirled around to find John, burly arms crossed above his chest, staring at it. The terrible end was here.
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Crossing The Line
“Mr. Everett,” the principal hurried to great John. But the glare he received from the navy seal had him inching back.
John took a deep calming breath, the same way he did whenever control was leaving his body on the battlefield.
He could handle a hail of bullets falling on him or mortars pelting the ground he was running on. But someone bringing his daughter to tears was where he drew the line.
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Walking Home Alone
For the sake of civility, he motioned Principal Johnson to sit down. He was a gentleman that way, Mr. John Everett, and wanted the principal to know that.
But he was also a dangerous man, a fact that was clear judging from the sweat sheening on the principal’s forehead.
“I found her walking home alone, in tears and shaking,” John said calmly, sitting down as well. “Please, explain, principal. And do it fast while I still have the will to listen.”
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Sudden Stutter
Principal Johnson was stuttering over his own words as he tried to explain that Macy’s dress was culturally inappropriate. But John wasn’t buying it.
He asked the Principal how he could determine what was culturally appropriate and what wasn’t.
That was when the Principal knew he had met his match. Even he didn’t sound convincing as he tried to bring his point across.
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Not A Valid Point
But John allowed him to try to explain himself. He even kept quiet when the man talked himself into a trap.
And when his time came, he wiped the floor with the principal.
“My daughter has a valid reason for choosing this type of dress,” John said, and his tone matched his frighting demeanor. “I’m sure she told you that her mother used to work as a fashion designer.”
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Also Not Valid
When Principal Johnson saw he wasn’t going to get away with that trick, he tried another tactic. He stated that the slit on Macy’s dress violated the dress code.
“I know for a fact that my daughter covered more than she was supposed to.
She did everything in her power to ensure this situation wouldn’t happen,” John said.
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Months Of Hard Work
During the months she spent working on her dress, Macy kept John in the loop. She told him about every alteration and about the dress code stipulations that had been put in place for this night.
Macy tried her best to make everything perfect, and from what John could see, she succeeded.
However, Principal Johnson didn’t seem to agree.
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He Would Not Destroy It
But there was no way John was going to let the Principal destroy his daughter’s big day. It was what every girl her age dreamed of, and it shouldn’t be ruined because someone was targeting her.
As those thoughts crossed John’s mind, something else accompanied them.
Was this a regular thing? Was Macy being singled out for other things as well?
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Accusations
With fury burning through his veins, John accused Principal Johnson of doing just that.
He asked the man if it was the first time his daughter was being singled out or if it was a habit to pick on her when her father was out of town.
Principal Johnson was speechless. And John didn’t know if it was because the accusations were real or false.
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Were They Based On Facts?
Even he was starting to question his way of thinking. Was he just overreacting because he was so angry?
Or did he actually have a valid reason for thinking the way he did?
John looked over at Macy, who seemed to be incredibly uncomfortable, and his rage shot through the roof. If he were right, he would send the school crumbling to the ground.
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Was He Bulling Macy?
“Answer me!” John snapped. “Are you targeting my daughter?!” Principal Johnson shifted in his chair as he swallowed the lump in his throat.
“It wasn’t like that,” the Principal said. “I just felt the dress was inappropriate, and I did give her two choices.
She could either go home, or she could change. There’s nothing wrong with that.”
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Out Of Sight Out Of Mind
“What’s wrong with it is that you don’t have a valid reason for forcing her to change,” John said. “What’s wrong with it is that you made inappropriate comments about the way my daughter looked. And on top of that, you suspended her.”
The Principal had no way out, and he knew it. He was acting like John didn’t exist when he wasn’t in town.
And that would turn out to be his downfall.
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A Terrifying Reminder
But now John was there, and what he saw was a terrifying reminder of what his daughter was going through while he was deployed.
It was also a harsh reminder to Principal Johnson that no one should mess with the daughter of a career soldier.
Especially not on a night that she would remember for the rest of her life.
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Big Apologies
Principal Johnson started apologizing on the spot. But that just infuriated John even more. His behavior was proving that there wasn’t anything wrong with Macy’s dress.
She just fell victim to his bad mood.
And that was something John wasn’t going to stand for. He didn’t fly for 15 hours just to find his daughter walking home with tears streaming down her face.
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Meaningless Words
“Your words mean nothing to me,” John said as he got up from his chair. “I’m taking my daughter into that hall, and she will enjoy her prom, whether you like her dress or not.”
He extended a hand to Macy, and the two of them approached the door.
But before they left, John had some last words for the Principal. “This isn’t over, Mr. Johnson.”
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Best Prom Ever
John stayed with Macy that night. And because of that, the prom was even more special than she ever thought it would be.
She got to dance with her father and enjoy the night with her friends.
But even though John put his best foot forward, what happened in the office was still eating at him.
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Not The End
His daughter had the prom of her dreams, and he was there to celebrate it with her. But the facts remained.
If he didn’t come home to surprise her, she would still be walking home.
And that didn’t sit well with her father. If his request for leave didn’t go through, Macy’s prom and graduation could’ve been ruined.
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He Wasn’t Happy
John swore to make Principal Johnson pay for what he had done. And it wasn’t just because of the dress. It was because of all the humiliation he had put her through while doing so.
Macy was clearly distraught by the whole situation. And in her eyes, the worst part was that she was escorted off the property even though Principal Johnson knew no one had been called to pick her up. He endangered her life, and he would suffer the consequences of his actions.
To protect the privacy of those depicted, some names, locations, and identifying characteristics have been changed and are products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblances to actual events, places, or persons, living or dead, are entirely coincidental.
