The final note of the song lingered in the air long after William Carter and Sophie Bennett stopped dancing.

For several heartbeats, neither of them moved.

The applause came quietly at first.

Then another pair of hands joined.

Soon the entire auditorium echoed with warm, heartfelt clapping.

William looked uncomfortable. Public attention had never suited him.

He gently knelt until he was eye level with Sophie.

"You dance better than I do," he said with a small smile.

Sophie giggled.

"I stepped on your shoes."

"Only twice."

"I think it was four times."

William pretended to think very seriously.

"You may be right."

For the first time that evening, the little girl's laughter rang through the auditorium.

Across the room, Rachel Morgan wiped away a tear before anyone noticed.

Just then the entrance doors swung open.

A woman hurried inside, breathing heavily.

"Sophie!"

Karen Bennett rushed across the room, her purse slipping from her shoulder.

"I'm so sorry... traffic... my phone died..."

She stopped suddenly when she saw her niece standing beside William Carter.

For a moment she forgot how to speak.

"I... Mr. Carter... I didn't know..."

William simply nodded.

"She was waiting alone."

Karen's face filled with shame.

"I promised I'd be here before the dance started."

Sophie quietly squeezed William's hand.

"It's okay, Aunt Karen."

But William knew it wasn't.

Children always forgave much faster than adults deserved.

As Karen thanked him repeatedly, William glanced toward the tiny blue bracelet still wrapped around Sophie's wrist.

Something inside him tightened.

Ten years ago...

Emily had worn the exact same kind of paper bracelet at her final school dance.

He had carefully folded it into a memory box after she died.

He hadn't thought about that bracelet in years.

Now he couldn't stop looking at it.

Before leaving, William reached into his pocket and handed Sophie a simple white business card.

"If you ever need another dance partner..."

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He smiled gently.

"...you know where to find me."