Chapter 13: The Last Salute
The general slowly faced the students.
"Stand."
No one questioned him.
Hundreds of students rose together.
He looked toward the girl's father's photograph.
Then raised his hand.
A perfect military salute.
One teacher followed.
Then another.
Then every student.
Even the boys who had laughed.
The girl stood quietly in the middle of the hallway.
Holding her father's photograph.
Holding his medal.
Holding his final letter.
Tears rolled down her face.
Not because she felt broken anymore.
But because, for the first time...
An entire school finally saw...
Not the girl with the prosthetic leg.
But the daughter of a hero.
May you like
And from that day forward...
No one ever laughed when she walked the stairs again.
