“I wrote something,” he said. “I’m not great at this. But I need to say it.”
He lifted his eyes to my daughter.
“Daisy… I’m sorry.”
The words rang through the gym.
“I’m sorry I didn’t stand up for you sooner. I’m sorry I walked past when I should’ve stopped. I can’t change the past. I can’t erase any of what happened.”
He took a breath.
“But I can tell the truth.”
He turned to face the crowd.
“Everybody thinks the bravest person in this school is the guy who runs onto the field on Friday nights.” He shook his head. “It’s not.”
He pointed straight at Daisy.
“It’s her.”
I couldn’t stop the tears anymore. Beside me, the girl in the flower crown was crying too.
Caleb read on.
“She’s been mocked. Left out. Underestimated. Hurt over and over. And she still shows kindness to people who never gave her any.”
The screen changed again.
But this time, the photos were different.
Daisy at the animal shelter, laughing as three puppies climbed into her lap.
