My mom meant the world to me. When cancer took her, all she left behind were memories—and a trust fund she created to secure my future. So when my dad began using that money on his new stepdaughter, it felt like he was slowly erasing the last parts of her. I couldn’t stand by and let that happen.
Losing someone you love never leaves you. I was just ten when Mom passed from breast cancer. One moment she was brushing my hair and singing along to old rock songs—then she was gone.
I remember our final conversation so vividly. She sat in her hospital bed, running her fingers through my hair and said, “Promise me you’ll never let anyone dim your light. You’re so special, Iris.”
She didn’t leave much behind—just a few photos, her scent on some scarves, and that trust fund, which she made clear was for my future. Everyone promised to honor her wishes—my grandparents, and even my dad.
But promises can fade, especially when the person who made them is no longer around.
Dad remarried two years later. His new wife, Marianne, had a daughter named Emily. At first, I tried to be open to it. But it quickly became clear: Emily came first, then Marianne, then Dad… and I was left out.
It started with little things. Our fridge and shower broke, and Dad dipped into my trust fund to fix them. “I’ll pay it back,” he said. But then he bought Emily a brand-new MacBook, while I got a $100 gift card for my birthday.
It wasn’t about the money—it was the disrespect.
Over time, he kept pulling from the fund—car repairs, renovations, anything but my future. Each time, it was “just for now.” But the excuses stacked up, and my mom’s last gift to me kept shrinking.
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