The dress had been donated years ago, and Ellie had never gotten the letter. Grandma and I couldn’t find any clues—until prom night, when I won prom queen. That’s when my teacher approached me, staring at my dress. “Where did you get that?” she asked. Her name? Eleanor. Ellie. I gave her the letter. She read it, and tears came instantly. “She came back for me,” she whispered. The next day, we drove six hours to the address. A woman answered the door—and collapsed into Ellie’s arms.
Later, Ellie’s mom handed me a check for $20,000. “You gave us a second chance. Let us help you start your first.” That money changed my life—but the real gift was the miracle hidden in a $12 dress. Sometimes, people give away more than clothes. Sometimes, they give away hope.
