10/20/2025
I'm 17, and tonight is my high school graduation—the moment I've been waiting for.
Throughout my life, I've wanted to wear my mother's dress from her own graduation.
When I was 12, cancer claimed her. THAT DRESS became something very special.
Years later, my dad married Stephanie. She was always concerned with how things looked. She threw away all of my mom’s possessions, calling them "junk," and filled the home with expensive decor.
The day before graduation, I twirled in the mirror, wearing my mom’s dress.
Stephanie taunted,
"YOU CAN'T WEAR THAT RAG! You'll bring shame on our family. You're wearing the designer dress I picked out — the one that cost THOUSANDS!"
I replied, "This is a special dress for me... I'm wearing it."
On prom day, I unzipped my dress bag and froze.
The dress was destroyed: the seam ripped, satin stained with what looked like coffee.
Stephanie appeared, smiling: "OH, YOU FOUND IT!"
Nearly crying, I said, "You did this? It’s my mother's dress..."
She declared, "I'M YOUR MOTHER NOW! ENOUGH! You should have THROWN that dress in the trash a long time ago!"
I almost collapsed, but my grandmother came running, removed the stains, and stitched the torn fabric.
Later that night, I wore the dress with pride.
I didn’t know my father would soon make Stephanie REGRET her behavior.
He set his hand on my shoulder as HIS EYES DARKENED. ⬇️⬇️⬇️ See less
