I had never considered my stepfather a real parent. He married my mother when I was a teenager, but he kept his distance and rarely showed affection. Every conversation felt formal, and I spent years believing he tolerated me only because I came with the marriage.
The day before my bachelorette trip, Mom called and said he had been rushed to the hospital. She claimed he might not survive and begged me to cancel my plans so I could help her. Still carrying years of resentment, I refused. I told her he was her husband and therefore her responsibility, then boarded my flight.
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