You stood in front of the mirror in your room, dressed in your cap and gown. You tried to muster a smile, but it wouldn’t come. Today was supposed to be a moment of celebration. Finally, you were graduating high school.

And yet, it didn’t feel like a happy day at all. It was hard to find joy when, once again, your father and his other family had overshadowed everything.

Your father had been dating your mother when she got pregnant with you, but at the same time, he’d had an affair with another woman at work and got her pregnant as well. The result? He had both you and your half-brother, Nick, born around the same time. But instead of choosing your mother, he married the other woman. And from that moment on, you had always felt like you came second to Nick. Everything was about him.

Your graduation had been planned for weeks. Your father had promised he’d be there, that he’d spend the day celebrating with you. But two weeks later, you found out that Nick’s graduation was scheduled for the same day. Despite already committing to be there for yours, your father canceled. He told you he was sorry, but he had to go to Nick’s.

You fought with him. You gave him an ultimatum: either come to your graduation and finally put you first, or you were done. No more contact.

A soft knock at the door snapped you out of your thoughts.