I believed her.
Still, I told Rebecca that Tessa needed space.
She understood.
By the night of the recital, Tessa was dancing around our kitchen again while waiting for me to finish getting ready.
The change seemed small, but I noticed it immediately.
Her ballet shoes were lying beside the door instead of hidden inside her bag.
At the theater, I found her near the backstage entrance adjusting a ribbon on her costume.
“You nervous?” I asked.
“A little.”
“You’ll be okay.”
She smiled.
Then, just before she joined the other dancers, she caught my hand.
“Mom?”
“Yes?”
Her eyes looked brighter than they had in weeks.
“Watch me.”
I squeezed her fingers.
“I will.”
Later, when Tessa stepped onto the stage under the lights, she searched the audience until she found us.
