My mother locked my bedroom door on prom night, and I immediately knew something was wrong. Downstairs, Noah was waiting in his navy suit and bow tie. We had been friends since we were six,when we bonded over raisins and dinosaurs. Noah had Down syndrome, but to me, he was simply Noah—the friend who always remembered his promises.Years earlier, we had promised each other that we would go to prom together. As we grew older, our friendship remained strong through family changes, disappointments, and countless memories.
Before I could leave, Mom told me something I had never known. When I was twelve and struggling after my parents’ divorce, Noah had noticed how withdrawn I had become.He had even spoken with Mom after seeing her upset and asked if I was okay. Mom told me that Noah had said, “I don’t know how to fix people. I only know how to stay.”She had asked him to keep looking out for me because he cared about me and could make me smile during difficult times.
