Noah, sensing his message had been received, placed the microphone back on the stand. He descended the stage and ran back to me, wrapping his arms around my waist. “I love you, Mom,” he whispered.

Tears welled in my eyes, not from the earlier humiliation, but from a profound sense of gratitude for my son’s courage and love. I hugged him tightly, whispering, “I love you too, Noah.”