The priceless crystal set that belonged to my late mother was destroyed by my stepmother just a few weeks before my wedding, and I felt that my heart would never be able to mend. With that smug look, she stood there, convinced that she had finally succeeded in erasing the memories of my mother from my life. She was completely unaware of what was going to happen.
That would be me, Jennifer. My mother, Alice, passed away when I was 16 years old. I am now 25 years old. Even after nine years, the anguish is still very much present. She exemplified sweetness and grace to the fullest extent. A close friend of mine, she was. The one who always had a scent that was reminiscent of cinnamon rolls and lavender. In my eyes, she was everything.
She did not leave behind a lot of things when she passed away. However, Mom did leave me one priceless item that holds a great deal of significance to me: her cherished crystal set. There is no ordinary crystal. Her soul and her memories were contained inside these fragments.
On Sundays, Mom would carefully remove each glass from the cabinet containing the glasses. They would be polished to the point that they glistened like diamonds in the light. Then, she would regale me with tales of the day she purchased them in the central business district of Grove Wood.
“One day, Jenny,” she would continue, “these will be yours for something special.” they were her words. Is it okay, love, if you just bring them out for the circumstances that truly matter?
Indeed, that momentous day arrived at last. Getting engaged to Michael brought me nothing but happiness. On the other hand, it drew Sandra into sharp distinction. In the five years that followed the death of my mother, my stepmother wed my father. I was never able to forget that she had taken over as the new woman of the house.
I had the impression that she was competing against a ghost from the very beginning. There was never a time when I could mention my mother’s name without Sandra making a frown, as if she had just tasted sour milk. She never concealed the fact that she felt threatened by the memories of my mother.
I paid her little attention for the most part. What exactly was the goal of it all? But as soon as I became engaged, it was as if she dialed up the intensity of the situation.
First, there were the jabs.
“Are you going to walk down the aisle alone, or will you drag your mother’s urn along?”
First, there were the requests.
At one point on a Tuesday morning, she was standing in our kitchen with her arms tightly crossed over her chest. Those eyes of hers held that recognizable fire.
She stated, “You’ll wear my wedding dress,” and she meant it. Without a doubt. There is no prior notice. It’s just a request.
It made me laugh. “You’re joking, right?”
Would you say that I appear to be joking, girl? At this point, I am your father’s wife. Wearing my outfit is a way to respect me.
The pit of my stomach sank. When compared to me, she was four sizes larger. I would much prefer wear burlap than her clothing. This is the most crucial point.
“I already bought my dress, Sandra.”
As her face became darker. “We’ll see about that.”
****
A period of two weeks passed in uncomfortable quiet. It was as if a storm cloud was moving through the house as Sandra did. The father made an effort to act as a mediator, but Sandra’s rage dominated the entire room.
When I arrived home on that Thursday afternoon, my arms were groaning under the weight of bridal flowers and table settings. Behind me, the front door slammed shut with a click. Almost immediately, I had the impression that something was awry.
The entrance to the dining room was left open. Windows were open, allowing sunlight to enter the room. However, there was something that sparkled on the wooden floor. As soon as I saw it, my heart stopped going.
The ground was littered with shards of crystal, which resembled dead stars. My mother’s priceless glass set was in a state of disrepair. Every single piece conveyed a narrative of violence, hatred, and the intentional destruction of things.
While she stood there, Sandra was carrying a broom. On her face, there was no sign of shame or sorrow. Simply contentment is all.
As she was performing in a theatrical setting, she said, “Oh Jen!” My gait is so clunky. “While I was looking for something, I accidentally knocked over the entire cabinet.”
I did nothing but stand there, speechless, attempting to comprehend the magnitude of her horrible behavior.
She continued by saying, “Accidents do occur.” “I guess some things aren’t meant to last forever.”
I whirled around and sprinted away. In my shoes, the bits made a crunching sound. I felt my heart breaking more and more with each step. I could not allow her to witness me crying. It is not possible for me to grant her victory.
During the night, I called my Aunt Marlene while crying via my phone. That was her mother’s sister. She was the only one who could genuinely comprehend what I had accomplished in my life.
My voice broke onto the phone as I shouted out, “Sandra ruined my mother’s crystal set.”
There was a moment of silence between us. After that, Aunt Marlene’s voice returned in a different manner.
“Jennifer, honey, I need to tell you something important.”
“What?”
The previous week, I paid a visit to your residence. Over the phone, Sandra was speaking with her close friend Nancy. She believed that she was by herself. Aunt Marlene took a momentary pause. “She was planning to destroy those crystals.”
“Planning it?”
The following is a comment from her: “If Jennifer wants to honor someone at that wedding, it should be me,” she stated about me. It is time to get rid of the priceless memories that Alice has.'”
My blood was filled with rage. This was not a simple occurrence. It was a murderous act. Abuse of my mother’s memory was committed.
“But Jenny,” Aunt Marlene said with a voice that was softer. “I was responsible for something. I made a purchase from the thrift store that was a low-cost crystal set. I used a different pair of shoes on the same day.”
I was unable to breathe. “My… my mother’s crystal set…”
The genuine crystals that belong to your mother are secure in my attic. Moreover, I set up a miniature camera in the dining area of your home. We have a video recording of everything. I was expecting you to call. Sweetheart, I had the intention of surprising you with the crystals at your wedding celebration.
I grinned for the first time in what seemed like weeks.
****
When Sandra was making coffee the following morning, she hummed to herself. She appeared to be really satisfied with herself. She was so certain that she would emerge victorious.
The question that she posed was, “How are you doing, mom?” Her tone conveyed an air of phony concern.
As a result, I allowed my shoulders to drop and my voice to become weak and broken.
“I’m in utter discord. I placed a great deal of importance on the crystals.
This may be a sign, Sandra thought as she slowly mixed her coffee. “Well,” she said. The time has come to let go of the past and concentrate on your new family.
When I was under the table, I tightened my fists. On the other hand, I maintained a dejected and sad expression on my face.
“You’re probably right.”
Her grin became even more expansive. In her mind, she had triumphed. She believed that she had taken the gems and broken my spirit at the same time.
Let her have that thought. She should be allowed to relax and enjoy her success.
There were only three days left until the wedding.
The day of my wedding began with a clear and brilliant sky. At first glance, the location in Scotsville appeared to be something out of a fairy tale. There were white blossoms in every nook and cranny. In the air, there was a gentle stream of music. There was no flaw in any aspect.
Sandra walked around in her fancy clothing as if she were the absolute owner of the establishment. She got herself a seat in the front row of the audience. Her actions ensured that everyone was aware that she was the stepmother, the new woman in her father’s life.
I chose to stand up with the microphone while the reception was going on.
“Thank you all for being here,” I started out by saying. “Michael and I are so grateful for your love and support.”
A smile was returned to me by the crowd. From the table, Sandra radiated happiness.
Please allow me to use this opportunity to recognize a very unique individual. I would like to thank someone who showed me what true love looks like. There was a pause. “My mother, Alice.”
Behind me, the screen of the projector got lit up. My age at the time of the first photograph was eight years old. I was sitting at the kitchen table with my mother. I was following her instructions on how to polish the crystal glasses. The light of the afternoon made them shine with a mystical radiance.
There were audible expressions of gratitude conveyed by members of the crowd. The father wiped his tears.
After that, the second picture materialized. The video started playing at that moment. Through the speakers, Sandra’s voice reverberated across the room, and it was audibly clear.
“If Jennifer wants to honor someone at that wedding, it should be me.”
There was complete and utter silence among the throng. When Sandra entered our dining room, she appeared on the screen. She took one of the crystal glasses in her hands and studied it with a calculating and unemotional approach.
“Time to get rid of Alice’s precious memories.”
After that, she hurled the glass to the ground and shattered it with a loud bang.
Everyone in the venue let out a collective gasp. The attention of the crowd was drawn to Sandra. In spite of the fact that her face had turned white, her designer dress continued to be brilliant and flashy.
It continued with the video. Each and every piece was meticulously obliterated by Sandra. Every single collision reverberated through the speakers. The sound of her laughter followed each shattered glass.
“Let’s see her honor her precious mommy now!” She laughed out loud.
When I turned around, I was facing the audience. Sandra appeared to be on the verge of passing out.
“Fortunately,” I stated in a clear voice, “the crystal set that you just witnessed her destroy was a replica.” The genuine one is secure, and I am grateful to my Aunt Marlene for that.
In the far corner of the room, my aunt suddenly materialized. Her mother’s original crystal glasses were placed on a silver tray that she carried. Rainbows were thrown over the ceiling as they caught the lights and shot them about.
A roar of appreciation erupted from the crowd. Dad got up from his seat at the table. The expression of rage on his face was unlike anything I had ever seen before. As he approached Sandra’s table, he moved gently. The now-quiet chamber vibrated with the sound of every stride.
“Pack your things,” he advised in a voice that was audible to everyone in the room. “You are finished. We are finished.”
She made an attempt to speak. She made an attempt to disclaim that all was a jest and a misunderstanding. But her words were not convincing. There was no longer any belief in her.
Gathering her handbag, she made her escape from the location. She was leaving, and people were whispering behind her. Her humiliation was slammed shut by the powerful doors.
****
In the evening, we participated in a toast by raising Mom’s real crystal glasses. It was the ideal weight for me to hold in my hand. When the light passed through the crystal, it was exactly the same as when it had passed through our kitchen all those years before.
I experienced her presence for the very first time since my mother passed away. I was able to feel it. It seemed as though she was smiling and sitting right next to me.
It wasn’t just about rescuing the crystals that brought about the delight. While Sandra was watching, she came to the realization that she had been outplayed by the same woman whose memory she had been attempting to erase.
Quite a few of the attendees had captured the entire revelation on their mobile devices. At the break of dawn, the entire town of Millfield would be aware of what Sandra had done. There would be no more instances of her appearing in our community.
Towards the end of the evening, my father came over to visit me. His eyes shone with tears that had not yet been shed.
“Your mother would be so proud,” he murmured beneath his breath. “You fought for her memory with grace and strength.”
A firm hug was given to him. “She instructed me in the art of loving. And how to safeguard what is of significance.”
He gave my hand a gentle squeeze. As we looked around, we saw our relatives and friends. Regarding Aunt Marlene, who was meticulously putting away Mom’s crystals. And at the table that was vacant, where Sandra ought to have been sitting.
Once and a while, karma requires a little prodding. Both meticulous preparation and a covert camera are required for this.
Justice, on the other hand, always manages to find a way to shine through, just like sunlight may shine through crystal. There are times when you are rewarded with a standing ovation for your efforts to fight for love.
