Hello, everyone. I need to share something that’s weighed heavily on me for a long time. A few years ago, I graduated from school, a day I had worked so hard for and was incredibly proud of. I was excited to share this milestone with my family, especially my parents, who I thought had supported me throughout my journey. However, their absence that day has haunted me ever since.
The ceremony was buzzing with excitement: students in their caps and gowns, families cheering, and cameras flashing everywhere. As I sat among my classmates, waiting for my name to be called, I experienced a blend of nervousness and joy.
I was scanning the crowd for my mom and stepdad, convinced they were somewhere in the sea of faces, maybe just out of my line of sight. “They’re probably running late,” I kept telling myself. “Or maybe stuck in traffic. They’ll be here any minute.”