MY PARENTS DIDN’T COME TO MY GRADUATION AND I ONLY HAVE THIS PHOTO OF MISERABLE ME ALONE – THEIR REASON FOR NOT COMING BROKE ME & I CAN’T FORGIVE THEM. I worked so hard for my graduation day and was so excited to share this special moment with my parents. But during the ceremony, I kept glancing around, trying to spot them, with no luck. When the ceremony finally ended, I realized they weren’t there. I immediately checked my phone. There was a message from my mom. I opened it, and my jaw just dropped: “Sorry, we won’t come. I hope it’s no big deal. We have an emergency.” I was devastated and confused. I immediately headed home, worried about their lives, but when I walked in, I couldn’t believe my eyes because they were simply…
Graduating from high school is a special moment that we eagerly anticipate. It’s a time we share with our loved ones, marking a chapter in our lives that we will always hold dear in our hearts.
Britt, a young girl, had a mix of feelings on this day. She felt happy for finishing high school, but she was also nervous that her mom and step-dad might not come. In the midst of all the people and cameras, she was looking for some familiar faces.
While she sat next to her friends, she couldn’t help but glance around. “They must be running late,” she thought to herself. “Or maybe they’re stuck in traffic. They’ll show up soon.”
Britt looked around as names were called. When it was her turn to walk up to the stage, she smiled. Holding her diploma, she hoped to see her mom smiling and step-dad giving her a thumbs up, but they were not there.
She searched around, thinking, “They have to be here somewhere.” When she saw they weren’t there and likely wouldn’t come, Britt looked at her phone. A message said, “We’re sorry we couldn’t come. Your stepsister had an issue. We’ll celebrate later. Congratulations!”
Britt became very worried. She pondered what could be more important than her graduation and was eager to go home and support her parents.
Iris, her stepsister, constantly had tantrums and craved attention. What could be the issue now?
Britt was alone when she felt a hand on her shoulder. It was Justin, her prom date. He asked, “Are you alright?” sensing that something was amiss.
Britt was unable to respond as she had a lump in her throat. Tears began to stream down her face instead of words.
Justin’s mother called her over and hugged her, saying “You’re not alone, we’re here for you, sweetheart.”
They went above and beyond to prevent Britt from feeling isolated and worked to fill the gap.
After the party with Justin’s family, Britt went back home. She found her mom and step-dad sitting on the couch, watching TV as usual. Surprisingly, they seemed very calm.
Britt felt her anger rising. “Where were you all?” she questioned, her voice shaking. “You missed my graduation.”
Her mother seemed embarrassed as she said, “Your stepsister had a meltdown because she broke a nail. She insisted we take her to the beauty salon right away to get it fixed. She was inconsolable, Britt.”
Britt couldn’t believe it. She exclaimed, “You missed my graduation because Iris had a meltdown over a broken nail?”
Iris, not bothering to look up, mentioned, “It was an emergency for me.”
Britt suddenly understood how unbalanced her parents’ priorities were. She knew Iris was their favorite, but this was the final straw. “Seriously?” she yelled. “Do you even understand how important this was to me?”
Her mom couldn’t meet her gaze as she uttered, “Britt, we apologize. We’ll have a celebration afterwards, I assure you.”
Britt thought about it and then made the decision to leave the house for a while. She dialed Mrs. Anderson, Justin’s mother, and nervously asked for a favor, saying, “Good evening, Mrs. Anderson. I need to ask you something, but I’m not sure how to…”
“Please continue, Brittany. What’s on your mind?” Mrs. Anderson responded with a gentle tone.
“Is it okay if I crash at your place for a bit? I had a disagreement with my family and I really need to leave.”
Justin’s mother didn’t think twice. “Certainly, dear. You’re always invited here.”
Britt gathered her belongings and made her way to the front door. “I’m going,” she stated. “I require a break from this place, from you.”
She tried to stop her daughter, but it was already too late.
In the weeks that came after, Britt secured a job and later found an apartment. She avoided her parents’ calls and didn’t want to communicate with them.
Years later, as she was about to finish college, Britt chose to offer them a second chance. She phoned them and asked them to attend her graduation. She felt they needed to be there for her this time.
Unfortunately, history repeated once more. During Britt’s college graduation, her mom and step-dad were absent. The reason? Iris, who was expecting a baby, wanted a specific cake from a bakery in the neighboring town and they were delayed in traffic. Similar to before, they apologized with a simple text message.
This was yet another blow from the people who were meant to be Britt’s biggest support. Following the ceremony, Justin found Britt. “They didn’t come, did they?” he said softly. “No, they didn’t,” she answered.
It sounds like Justin was a great support for Britt, becoming the closest person in her life and eventually starting a relationship together. Britt seems content with how things have turned out, but it’s clear that the absence of her parents still weighs heavily on her heart.
Reflecting on the past, Britt realized that even if given a second chance, certain people will misuse it and continue to let you down time and time again.
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