{"id":14140,"date":"2025-09-20T17:13:52","date_gmt":"2025-09-20T17:13:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/readmore.cx\/?p=14140"},"modified":"2025-09-20T17:13:52","modified_gmt":"2025-09-20T17:13:52","slug":"14140","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/readmore.cx\/?p=14140","title":{"rendered":""},"content":{"rendered":"

Since ninth grade, I\u2019d imagined my prom dress while scrolling Instagram and saving pictures of satin and tulle. I didn\u2019t want anything extravagant, just something simple and magical\u2014something that made me feel like I belonged in a world where dreams could come true.<\/p>\n

My mom, who passed away when I was 12, always said,\u00a0\u201cI want your life to have sparkle.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0I liked to believe she\u2019d be watching from heaven, seeing me in something sparkly. Ever since, I\u2019ve been chasing sparkle like it was a finish line.<\/p>\n

Dad remarried when I was 14, and that\u2019s when Linda entered the picture. She carried herself with designer perfume, flawless posture, and a voice that always sounded like she knew better. Along with her came Hailey, her daughter\u2014my age\u2014who moved in during junior year.<\/p>\n

We weren\u2019t enemies, but we weren\u2019t close either. We coexisted, like strangers sharing the same train ride in opposite directions.<\/p>\n

When February rolled around, so did prom fever. Girls at school started group chats about dress colors and playlists. Pinterest boards were shared like treasure maps.<\/p>\n

Even Linda caught the energy. She plastered a \u201cProm Planning Board\u201d on the refrigerator like it was some kind of science fair project. It was filled with checklists: venue, nails, spray tans, shoes, hair trials, corsage etiquette.<\/p>\n

Hailey\u2019s name appeared in glittery purple ink, underlined in sparkle gel pen. My name? Nowhere.<\/p>\n

I didn\u2019t care. I was saving quietly.<\/p>\n

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Since ninth grade, I\u2019d imagined my prom dress while scrolling Instagram and saving pictures of satin and tulle. I didn\u2019t want anything extravagant, just something simple and magical\u2014something that made me feel like I belonged in a world where dreams could come true. My mom, who passed away when I was 12, always said,\u00a0\u201cI want…<\/p>\n

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