Amber was crying now.
Amber then approached and took the handles of Grandpa’s wheelchair without a word, guiding it towards me.
The DJ played “What a Wonderful World”, a soft and slow song, the kind of slowness that seems made for moments like this.
I took my grandfather’s hand and walked onto the track.
We danced as we always had. He guided me with his left hand. I adapted my steps to the rhythm of the wheels. It was the same pushing and turning motion we had practiced for years on the linoleum in the kitchen.
The gym had become completely silent. Everyone was attentive, and no one wanted to break the silence.
I adapted my steps to the rhythm of the wheels.
At one point, I looked down at my grandfather, and he was already looking at me. His expression was the same as it had always been: a little proud, a little amused, and perfectly serene.
At the end of the song, the applause began slowly, then grew louder until it became the loudest noise in the room.
***
We stepped out of the gymnasium doors into the cool night air, just the two of us, the noise fading behind us. The parking lot was quiet under the starry sky.
I slowly pushed my grandfather’s wheelchair along the asphalt, without either of us saying anything for a moment, because some moments don’t need words.
It was the loudest noise in the room.
Then my grandfather turned to me and shook my hand. “I told you so, my darling!”
I laughed. “That’s true.”
“This is the most beautiful of dates.”
“And the best I could ask for!”
Grandfather patted my hand once as I pushed him towards the car under all those stars. I thought about that night, 17 years ago, when a 67-year-old man walked into the smoke and came out carrying a baby.
Everything good in my life was born from this act of love.
Grandfather didn’t just pull me out of the fire that night. He’s taken care of me ever since.
And he promised me the most handsome date for the end-of-year ball. He was also the bravest.
He has taken care of me so far.
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