I lost my mom, Alice, when I was 16. The one thing I had left of her was her treasured crystal set — the same one we polished together every Sunday, with her telling me it was for “moments that matter.” That moment finally came when I got engaged. But my stepmom Sandra, who’d always bristled at Mom’s memory, decided my wedding should honor her instead. First she demanded I wear her wedding dress. When I refused, she went silent too silent.

Two weeks later, I came home to find Mom’s crystal smashed to glittering shards on the dining room floor. Sandra stood over it, broom in hand, smiling like she’d won. She claimed it was an accident, but my aunt Marlene soon told me the truth she’d overheard Sandra plotting to destroy it.

Luckily, Marlene had already swapped the crystals for a thrift-store set and hidden the real ones in her attic. She’d even set up a tiny camera. At the reception, I took the mic. Photos of Mom and me polishing the crystal appeared on the screen — followed by video of Sandra deliberately smashing every glass and laughing about it. Gasps filled the room.

Then Marlene walked in, carrying the real crystal, sparkling under the lights. My dad turned to Sandra and said, “Pack your things. We’re done.” She fled, humiliated. That night, we toasted with Mom’s real glasses. I felt her with me again — and I knew Sandra’s cruelty had only made her memory shine brighter.