“At my son’s wedding, you pointed at me in front o…

I remember sitting on the edge of his bed trying to explain that Daddy wasn’t coming home, that it was just the two of us now, that we would figure it out together. I thought about the years that followed. Working double shifts at the accounting office so I could afford his school supplies.

Making his lunches every morning before the sun came up. Sitting in the parking lot of his soccer games, cheering louder than any other parent because I wanted him to know he was loved. I thought about the birthdays I celebrated with homemade cakes because I couldn’t afford bakery ones.

The Christmases where I wrapped presents in newspaper because wrapping paper seemed wasteful. The nights I stayed up late sewing patches on his jeans so he could wear them one more month. I did everything for him.

Everything. And tonight, when his new family mocked me in front of hundreds of people, he looked away. That thought pushed me forward.