Carly had her whole life ahead of her, but the prom seemed like the most important thing. Despite struggling financially, her mother and grandmother had saved some money for the dress of her dreams. However, one bus trip forced her to choose between her own happiness and helping others.Carly, a sixteen-year-old girl, lived with her mother, Dina, and grandmother, Holly, in a small, cozy apartment. Life had never been particularly easy for the family. Money was always tight, and they often had to make sacrifices to get by.But despite their financial struggles, the three of them shared a deep bond that made the tough times a little more bearable. They had love, and to Carly, that love meant everything. Today, however, was different.

Carly could feel the air buzzing with excitement.Prom was just around the corner, and though she hadn’t said much about it, she had secretly been dreaming of wearing a beautiful dress to feel like she belonged. Everyone at school had been talking about their extravagant outfits and fancy plans, and Carly had tried to hide her disappointment, knowing that her family couldn’t afford anything like that. But this morning, something special happened. Dina and Holly called Carly into the kitchen, where they were both smiling warmly.The smell of freshly brewed coffee filled the room, and the sunlight streamed through the window, giving the moment a cozy glow. Dina motioned for Carly to sit down, her eyes sparkling.“We know how important your prom is to you,”