“Mom.”
“I found it in your trash,” Betty said. “I shouldn’t have taken it without asking.”
Layla stared at the missing corner.
“May I put it here?” Betty asked.
Finally, Layla nodded.
The two photos sat side by side.
“May I put it here?”
“How did you lose the weight?” Layla asked.
“I changed my habits because I wanted to feel healthier. But I wasted years thinking my life would begin after I looked different.”
“What changed?”
“I stopped waiting.”
Betty touched the cut edge of Layla’s photo.
“They’re just jealous,” she began, then stopped. “No. What they’re doing is cruel, and I’m going to help you deal with it.”
“I stopped waiting.”
Layla looked at her.
“For real?”
“For real.”
I slid my photo toward Layla.
“That girl deserved to stay in the picture.”
Layla pushed her own photo beside mine.
“So does this one,” she said.
“That girl deserved to stay in the picture.”
