My mom died a year before my wedding. On the day I was supposed to say “I do,” her attorney handed me an envelope she’d left for me. Inside was a USB drive with a video message.
What she revealed changed everything I thought I knew about my life and the man I was about to marry.
They say your wedding day is the happiest day of your life.
Mine was. Until it wasn’t.
My name is Jessica, and this is the story of how my wedding day became something I never expected.
My mom, Debbie, passed away a year ago.
Cancer. It happened fast.
One year we were planning holidays together, the next we were counting treatments and good days.
I introduced her to my fiancé, Eric, while she was still clear-minded.
He told her about his family, his job, and his plans for our future.
He even showed her photos of his mom, late father, and his uncle and aunts.
Mom smiled and was polite, but something about her felt guarded.
Later, when I asked if she liked him, she hesitated.
She touched my face gently. “Sweetheart, if you’re happy, that’s what matters.”
“But do you like him?”
She looked away.
“I like that he makes you smile. I like that he treats you well.
That’s enough for me.”
I clung to that.
I told myself she approved. That she was just being cautious because she was sick.
But I should’ve asked more questions.
When she passed, I didn’t want to get married without her.
I wanted to postpone everything. But Eric convinced me to move forward.
“She’d want you to be happy,” he kept saying.
So I agreed.
And the day came.
The morning of my wedding, I stood in front of the mirror in my dress.
White lace.
Delicate beading. My bridesmaids were fluttering around me, adjusting my veil, laughing, and taking pictures.
But all I could think about was that my mom wasn’t there.
I held a small locket with her photo inside. I’d tucked it into my bouquet so she could be with me in some way.
“You look beautiful,” my maid of honor said, squeezing my shoulder.
I smiled, but my eyes were wet.
“I just wish she could see this.”
Just as I was about to head to the ceremony, an older man approached me.
I recognized him immediately. Mr.
Harrison, my mother’s longtime friend and her attorney.
“Jessica, could I speak with you for a moment?”
He looked somber.
“Your mother left something for you. She made me promise to give it to you only on your wedding day.”
The story doesn’t end here –
it continues on the next page.
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