Audrey’s teacher, Ms Alvarez, told me my daughter had withdrawn because she believed I doubted her talent. I found Audrey near a vending machine and showed her proof that I was still paying for lessons. Through tears, she explained that our longtime friend Derek had used their drives to convince her that her parents and teacher wanted her to stop. Instead of attending class, she had been hiding in a nearby cafe. Ms Alvarez reassured her, and I held her while she cried.
Confronted with his messages, Derek admitted he resented Audrey’s success because his daughter had been rejected from the program. We ended his access to our family. With her teacher’s help, Audrey returned to lessons and earned a place in the spring recital. Watching her search the front row for me that night, I smiled back, grateful she could finally see the pride we had felt all along.