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When my mother-in-law destroyed my late mother's precious crystal glassware a few weeks before my wedding, I thought my heart would never heal. She stood there with her smug smile, thinking she had permanently erased my mother's memory from my life. She had no idea what awaited her.
My name is Jennifer. I'm 25 years old and lost my mother, Alice, when I was 16. Nine years later, the pain is still fresh. She was the embodiment of gentleness and grace. She was my best friend. The one who always smelled of lavender and cinnamon. She was my everything.
A sad young woman | Source: Midjourney
She didn't leave much behind when she died. But she left me something precious that meant a lot to me: her beloved crystal box. Not just any crystal. These pieces contained her soul and her memories.
Every Sunday, Mom carefully took each glass out of the cupboard. She polished them until they shone like diamonds in the light. Then she told me stories about the day she bought them in Grove Wood town center.
"One day, Jenny," she said, "they'll be useful to you for something special. Take them out only at important times, okay, darling?"
A set of crystal glasses | Source: Pexels
That special day had finally arrived. My engagement to Michael brought me pure joy. But it also put Sandra in the spotlight. My stepmother had married Dad five years after Mom's death. She never let me forget that she was the new woman in the house.
