A young boy’s heart breaks when his classmates mock the sweater his grandmother lovingly made for him. But thanks to one teacher’s compassion, his spirits are mended, showing that heroes come in many forms, and not all wear capes.

Dylan’s schoolbag felt like a heavy burden on his small shoulders as he walked home, kicking rocks along the cracked sidewalk. His hands were buried deep in his pockets, and his eyes stayed fixed on the ground. At only eight years old, what could possibly weigh so heavily on him?

The upcoming “Superhero Day” at school had all the kids buzzing with excitement. Everyone, except for Dylan. His heart ached as he thought of his grandma, Mariam—his beloved “Mimi.” He knew she couldn’t afford to buy him the superhero jersey he desperately wanted.

As Dylan neared their small cottage, tucked at the end of a charming street, he saw Mariam in the backyard, her weathered hands plucking vegetables from the garden.

“Mimi, can I talk to you?” he called, frustration creeping into his voice.

“I’ll be there in a minute, sweetheart!” she replied cheerfully, unaware of the storm brewing inside him.

Once inside, Dylan flung his schoolbag across the room, accidentally knocking over a photo of him as a baby with his parents. The cracked glass spread like a spider’s web over their smiling faces, and his heart sank. He remembered the stories Mimi often told him about his parents, who had died in a tragic car accident when he was only a year old. Since then, it had been just him and Mariam—she was his everything.