My Son Walked Across the Graduation Stage Wearing a Bright Red Dress While Hundreds of People Laughed. I Was the Only Person in the Auditorium Who Knew Why.

The diploma passed.

Julian did not pose.

He stood in the red for one full second longer than the student before him, as if counting, and then he came down the steps.

Not back to the chairs.

Down the aisle.

Toward me.