Squinting her eyes in the glaring sun, Julia looked up at the stage where the boys and girls from Mike's class waited for their names to be called. They all looked so similar, with their identical graduation caps and gowns, but Julia quickly found her son among the excited seniors about to receive their diplomas.

Julia smiled as her eyes rested on her boy's handsome face. Even from where she was sitting, midway among the rows of chairs aligned in the schoolyard, their gazes locked. He was smiling back at her. For a moment Julia was tempted to wave at him, but she managed to restrain herself, not wanting to...