Chapter 1 - The Speech of the Crimson Silk-1

Back 0:19 / 10:27 AD VDO ×

On graduation night, my son entered the auditorium wearing a puffy red dress. The room erupted with laughter, but what he said next silenced everyone.

I’m 34, a single mom, and I’ve raised my son, Liam, completely on my own.

I was very young when I had him. My parents couldn’t accept my pregnancy, and his father, Ryan, disappeared the moment he learned the truth.

From that point on, it was just the two of us, learning how to navigate life together. I loved Liam more fiercely than I ever thought possible, but deep down, I often worried that he might feel the absence of a father figure.

Liam has always been quiet, thoughtful, and sensitive, keeping his emotions tightly guarded. As graduation approached, that reserve turned into secrecy. He started disappearing after school, always claiming he was “helping a friend,” and his phone never left his side, locked away like a state secret.

I told myself not to pry, but anxiety weighed heavily on my chest. One evening, he approached me, nervously twisting the strings of his hoodie.

“Mom, on graduation night, you’ll understand why I’ve been acting… like this.”