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My mom worked long hours to keep food on the table. She fixed leaky faucets, helped me with homework, attended every school event, and somehow managed to play the role of both parents.
She taught me how to ride a bike.
She taught me how to drive.
She taught me how to shave.
Most importantly, she taught me how to stand on my own two feet.
Because of her, I never felt abandoned.
At least, not until graduation day.
The campus was overflowing with excitement that afternoon. Families crowded every walkway carrying flowers, balloons, and cameras. Graduates posed for photos while proud parents wiped away tears.
My mother arrived early, wearing her favorite light-blue dress and the pearl necklace she wore to every important event in my life.
The moment she spotted me in my cap and gown, her entire face lit up.
For a while, everything felt perfect.
After the ceremony, we wandered through the courtyard taking pictures. Mom kept straightening my graduation cap and brushing invisible dust from my shoulders.
“Just one more picture,” she said.
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