My brother turned up at my wedding and made us both out to be thieves! I doubt Ill ever forgive him for it.
Some years ago, my late mother gave me a ring that had been handed down through the family for generations. She left it to me, her eldest son. My younger brothers never put much stock in our old family customs, so I decided to propose to my girlfriend using the heirloom ring. My girlfriend, Emily, was over the moon.
But a few weeks after Id popped the question, my brother Thomas announced he wanted to propose to his girlfriend with that very same ring.
Im sorry, Tom, but Ive already proposed to Emily with it, I told him.
How can you give it away to someone youve only known a few months? he snapped at me. What if you two split up? What happens to the ring then?
Thomas has been living with his girlfriend, Rebecca, for five years. My mum was quite fond of Rebecca, but she never promised Thomas the ring.
I honestly didnt think you and Rebecca were ever going to marry, Tom. Mum gave me the ring because Im her eldest son, I said.
Tom and I argued about it for ages. In the end, I simply decided not to invite him to my wedding. Still, I had a sinking feeling he would find a way to ruin our big day somehow.
Sure enough, Thomas showed up at the wedding and caused quite a scene:
Ladies and gentlemen, I know youre all here to share in the happiness of this lovely couple, he announced to the entire room, but none of you realise my brother here is a criminal!
People everywhere exchanged glances and whispered uneasily.
His bride is a thief too. Both of them have stolen our late mothers wedding ring
We tried to carry on as if nothing happened, but the atmosphere was ruined. Emily was terribly upset. Since then, I havent spoken to Tom for over half a year. I only talk to our youngest brother, Daniel.
Recently, Daniel popped by and told me hes getting married, and he wants us both there. The memory of what Tom did burned in my mind, and I just couldnt bring myself to go. Now the whole family thinks Im heartless. Tom and I once got on brilliantly, but these days, Ive no urge to speak with him at all. Its hard to get past the fact that he destroyed the most important day of my life.
If theres anything Ive learned, its that sometimes the oldest wounds, especially those inflicted by family on the days that matter most, are the hardest to heal.
