I never thought three lives could be changed by a €12 prom dress.
I hadn’t even intended to go at first. I didn’t feel like prom was for me. I didn’t want Mom to bear the hardship of not being able to buy a dress. Grandma, however, saw things differently.
“How about we search for treasure?” She smiled mischievously as she spoke. As though it were Aladdin’s cave, she led me to Goodwill.
Before I discovered that one, the majority of the dresses were hopeless. Floor-length, exquisite lace, midnight blue. Excellent. Price: €12.
Back home, I noticed something odd close to the zipper as Grandma skillfully adjusted the fit. A hand-stitched piece of cloth. A concealed letter inside the liner.
It said, “I’m sorry I left you,” and was addressed to a girl named Ellie. I was scared at the age of 17. I’ve been thinking about you often. I’ve included my address in case you want to find me. Mom, you have my undying love.
We froze. A garment with a gleam of promise and years of remorse. I chose to wear it even though the store was unable to determine where it came from.
I was still in disbelief when they named me as the prom queen that night, beyond all odds. My literature teacher came over at that point, her eyes gaping.
She inquired, “Where did you get that dress?”
“In a secondhand shop.”
She looked at me as if I were a ghost for a long time.
“I believe… I went to my own prom wearing it.
A beat skipped in my chest.
“What’s your name?”
“Eleanor. But I was known as Ellie by everyone.
Holding the dress securely in my arms, I nearly ran her home. I brought the letter inside and gave it to her. Tears sprang out at once.
“She returned,” she muttered. “She truly returned to get me.”
We went on the road the following day. The letter’s address is six hours away. Like two spirits reunited after a lifetime, Ellie and her mother stopped when the door opened and then rushed into each other’s arms.
It was like seeing the return of a part of someone’s soul.
We swapped memories, tea, and tissues that afternoon. Ellie’s mother gave me an envelope right before we left.
“You helped me reunite with my daughter. Let’s give you a new beginning.
There was a €20,000 check inside. I made an effort to decline, but Ellie offered me a gentle glance.
“You located the mail. You located me. Accept it, please.
Rent, books, and meals were all covered by that money, while scholarships did not. More than that, though, it gave me trust, which is far more valuable. Have faith that, even when we’re only trying to get a prom dress, the cosmos will occasionally work in our favor.
Grandma, too? She merely grinned.
“I told you,” she said in a whisper. “People donate more than they may realize. They even offer a second opportunity occasionally.
