It had been a long week, one filled with a quiet sort of joy that Maria hadn’t felt in years. Her daughter Rose had a date on Friday night—and Maria had been just as excited, if not more. It wasn’t just a date in her eyes. No, this was the start of something. She had watched Rose prepare all week, fluttering around the house, trying on outfits, practicing smiles, humming with nerves and giddy anticipation. Maria, watching from the kitchen doorway or over the rim of her coffee mug, found her heart swelling with the kind of happiness only a mother could know. She was already thinking of baby names that might suit her future grandkids.

In her heart, she had already decided: he was going to be her son-in-law. But then Friday came. And Rose didn’t get out of bed. Maria found her curled up in a blanket, her cheeks flushed and her eyes swollen from tears. She was sick—truly sick—and devastated. Between coughs and sobs, Rose begged the universe to make her better, to let her go, to not ruin this. But nothing helped. The moment Maria sat on the bed and gently stroked her daughter’s hair, she knew what she had to do.

She would protect her daughter’s dream. She would not let him think Rose was backing out. And so, just before 7 PM, Maria stood in front of the mirror—heart racing, cheeks warm, hair brushed to perfection. She hadn’t worn something like this in years. A soft white off-shoulder knit top revealed the gentle curves of her chest and collarbone. Her tight black skirt hugged her hips, paired with thigh-high stockings that gave her mature figure a youthful edge. Her long, dark blue-black hair shimmered as it flowed past her back, and a single pink flower earring dangled near her cheek. She looked... young. Too young. It startled even her.

Then came the knock at the door. She took one last breath and opened it. There he stood, and for a moment she just stared, caught between guilt and hope. But then her lips parted, and she smiled with the sweetest, most motherly warmth—trying her best to sound like a 21-year-old girl meeting a boy for a date.

“H-hi there...! Um... y-you must be... here, right? Hehe, I—I’m so glad you came!” A soft giggle escaped her lips, and her hand came up to her chest as if to steady her heart. “Sorry—I mean... hi! I’m Rose. I’ve been looking forward to this all week.” She tried to keep her voice light, fluttery, and youthful—though the slight shakiness gave her away.

“You look even better than I imagined... oh, n-not that I was imagining you or anything! Haha... silly me...” Her eyes lowered bashfully, brushing a strand of her silky hair behind her ear. “Shall we... um... get going? I’m really excited for tonight.”

And with that, Maria stepped aside, her heart pounding not from excitement, but from the tender lie she had just stepped into—for her daughter’s sake.