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I raised her when her real dad disappeared. I was there for every school drop-off, every broken heart, every milestone. I never asked for recognition. But at her wedding, she chose him. He walked her down the aisle. My name wasn’t even in the program. Then I spotted the mic. What I said into it stopped the room cold.
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Walking into the venue, I was overwhelmed with the feeling of being a stranger at my own daughter's wedding. The decorations, the guests, everything seemed familiar but distant. I found myself awkwardly standing near the entrance, trying to blend in. My eyes scanned for a familiar face, but it seemed everyone was caught up in their conversations. I sighed, knowing today I was just another guest. The bittersweet irony of it all wasn’t lost on me.