Our Daughter Was Ashamed of Us and Didnt Invite Us to the Wedding
Today, Ive decided to write about the pain weighing heavy on my heart. Our daughter was ashamed of us for being from the countryside. She didnt even invite us to her wedding
My husband and I have always lived simply, but with dignity. Our home, the vegetable patch, the cows, the daily worriesour whole life revolved around one goal: raising our only daughter to be a woman of worth. For her, wed have done anything. The best was always for Emily. New shoes? Of course. A coat so she wouldnt feel outdone by the city girls? Without question. We scraped together what little we had just so shed want for nothing. She grew up pretty, clever. Top marks at school, dreams of city life. And we were nothing but happyour Emily was destined for more than wed ever known.
With help from an old friend, my husband got her into a prestigious university in London. A state-funded course. We were as proud as if wed done it ourselves. We supported her however we couldwith money, with words. Every time she came home was a celebration. Wed listen to her stories like they were fairy tales: the office job, the wealthy boyfriendOliver, son of a businessman. Her eyes lit up when she spoke of him. And all we could think was: let the wedding come soon
But years passed, and no proposal came. One day, my husband couldnt take it anymore: Invite Oliver here, at least let us meet him! She hesitated, made excuses about work. Once, then again. Our suspicions grew. Something wasnt right. So we decided, my husband and I: wed go to London. We found the address in old letters. Bought sweets, dressed in our best, and set off.
The house was pure luxury. Brick, glass, security. A polite man greeted us and led us inside. Wealth fit for a film. We stood frozen, unsure where to look, until we were shown to the sitting room. Thats when I saw it. On the table, a large framed wedding photo. In white, with a bouquetour Emily. My husband went still as stone. And I felt the floor drop from under me.
Why didnt you come to the wedding, by the way? Oliver asked suddenly.
We exchanged glances. What could we say? That we hadnt even known? Then she appeared. Emily. Her face went pale, her lips trembled. I gestured for her to step outside with us. At first, she tried to dodge it, but finally, she gave in:
I didnt invite you because youre from the country. I was ashamed. I didnt want everyone knowing my parents were simple village folk
That word cut right through me. Like a knife. How could it be? Us? Ashamed? We, who gave her everything? Who worked ourselves to the bone just so shed have a future?
And Oliver? I asked, barely able to breathe. Did he know?
Yes. He wanted you there. He even sent an invite, but I told him youd refused
And that was it. We were the shame she hid. She didnt even give us the chance to be there on the most important day of her life. No warning, no explanationjust erased.
We left that same day. No tears, no shouting. Just an emptiness in our souls. How do you move forward when your own flesh and blood turns away? How do you believe none of it was in vain? That we didnt raise a stranger?
Since then, Emily hasnt called. And weve stayed silent too. Not out of spiteout of bitterness. Because we dont know what to say to someone who betrayed us so easily.
