“Alright, I’ll call you later… Dad’s here,” Sabrina quickly ended her phone call, hearing the familiar sound of her father, Pete, pulling his old van into the garage.
Eighteen-year-old Sabrina flipped through the TV channels, trying her best to distract herself. The excitement of her upcoming graduation was being overshadowed by dread. It was only two days away, and she had a bad feeling that her dad would bring it up. She knew exactly what he’d say, and she didn’t want to hear it.
Sabrina loved her father, but she wasn’t proud of his appearance. Pete worked as a coal miner, and his job left him covered in coal stains and sweat. Sabrina worried what her friends would think if Pete showed up at her graduation looking like he did every day—rough and worn-out. She feared that people would notice and judge her for it.
Just as she was trying to calm her nerves, the door swung open, and Pete’s voice filled the room. “Hey, sweetheart! Look what I brought for you!”
Despite her growing unease, Sabrina couldn’t help but feel a flicker of curiosity. Her father, a hardworking man who had raised her on his own since she was a little girl, often surprised her with small gifts. But today, Sabrina hesitated. She saw her dad’s coal-streaked face and rough hands, and she dreaded him touching her things.
Pete had spent years learning how to respect her space. He knew her boundaries, and he did his best to show his love without overstepping. He carefully placed two packages on the table in front of her. “I hope you’ll like these, sweetheart,” he said, his voice warm and full of pride.
After Pete left the room, Sabrina couldn’t help but open the boxes, eager to see what he had gotten her. Inside the first box was a beautiful dress, and Sabrina’s face lit up with genuine joy. It was everything she could have wanted. But when she opened the second box, her smile faltered.
Inside was a suit. Sabrina stared at it for a long moment before asking, “Thanks for the dress, Dad. But who’s the suit for?”
“It’s for me!” Pete grinned, clearly excited. “I need to look sharp for your graduation.”
Sabrina’s heart sank. She couldn’t bring herself to feel happy about the suit. “Dad,” she began, her voice shaking with frustration, “I don’t want you there. All my friends’ parents will be there, and I don’t want them laughing at me because of how you look.”
Pete froze. His joy faded as her words hit him hard. Sabrina could see the hurt in his eyes, but she didn’t care. She was too embarrassed to care.
Pete walked out of the washroom, his face still wet, and his voice was barely a whisper. “What did you just say?”
“My friends’ dads are successful, well-dressed, and wealthy. You can’t hide the fact that you’re a coal miner, no matter how much you clean up. I don’t want people laughing at me because of you,” Sabrina snapped.
Pete’s heart shattered. He had always looked forward to this moment, the day his daughter would graduate, but now it seemed like it wasn’t meant to be. “Well, thanks for the dress,” Sabrina added, but there was no warmth in her words. She turned and walked to her room, slamming the door behind her.
Pete stood still, trying to hold himself together. “She’s still young; she doesn’t understand,” he muttered to himself. But deep down, he knew he couldn’t miss this important day. He was determined to attend the ceremony and surprise her.
Two days later, the big day arrived.
Sabrina was already dressed in her graduation gown, looking stunning. Pete, filled with pride, smiled at her. “Do you want me to drop you off at school, sweetheart?” he asked, his eyes shining with love.
“Drop me off? No, thanks. Dave is picking me up. I don’t want my dress ruined by riding in your dirty van,” Sabrina replied curtly, avoiding his gaze.
Pete smiled anyway, trying to stay upbeat. “Alright. Have a great day, sweetheart!”
“And, Dad… don’t come, okay?” Sabrina added, her tone firm. “I trust you’ll stay away. Bye!” With that, she walked out the door.
As soon as Sabrina was gone, Pete started getting ready. “I can’t miss such an important moment in her life,” he told himself, determined to make the most of the opportunity.
At the ceremony, Pete quietly took a seat among the parents. He cheered along with everyone else as the students received their diplomas, his heart swelling with pride each time a new name was called. Then, Sabrina’s name echoed through the auditorium.
“Next, we call Miss Sabrina Parker!” the host announced.
Pete jumped up in excitement. He pulled out his phone, ready to capture the moment. “Congratulations, sweetheart! I’m so proud of you!” he shouted, his voice filled with emotion.
Sabrina’s heart dropped when she heard her dad’s voice. She spotted him in the crowd and instantly felt her cheeks flush with embarrassment. She looked away, trying to ignore him, and walked quickly to join her friends.
But then, the host’s voice rang out again. “Mr. Parker, would you please join us on stage?”
Sabrina froze. Her stomach churned with anxiety. “Why is he being called to the stage?” she wondered, her heart racing.
Pete stood up and walked toward the stage with a proud smile. “Thank you, Mr. Lauren! Ladies and gentlemen, could we please play the slideshow?” he asked the host, his voice confident.
As the room dimmed, a screen lit up with a beautiful video montage. It was a slideshow of Sabrina’s life, from childhood to graduation, and it featured pictures of Sabrina and Pete together through the years. The audience watched in awe as they saw the father-daughter duo grow closer over the years.
Pete stepped up to the microphone, his voice full of love and emotion. “I love my daughter more than anything,” he said, his voice cracking with raw emotion. “Sabrina, I’m so proud of you. I hope your mother, wherever she is, feels the same. Emma, if you’re watching from above, I hope you see what we’ve accomplished. Congratulations, Sabrina—we made it!”
The room erupted in applause, and Sabrina felt her emotions overwhelm her. She rushed to the stage, her eyes full of tears, and threw her arms around Pete. “I’m so sorry, Dad. Thank you for everything,” she sobbed.
Later that evening, as they drove home, Sabrina couldn’t stop thinking about Pete’s words. “Dad, why did you say Mom might be watching? She’s gone…isn’t she?”
Pete chuckled softly, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “Your mom isn’t dead, honey. She’s alive and still lives nearby.”
Sabrina was stunned. “What? Why didn’t you ever tell me?”
Pete’s eyes softened as he sighed, knowing it was time to tell the truth. “Because your mom left you when you were born. She didn’t want to raise you, and she told me I could either take you in or leave you in foster care.” He paused, his voice trembling. “But I chose to raise you. You were my world then, and you are my everything now.”
Tears welled up in Sabrina’s eyes as the truth sank in. She realized how much her father had sacrificed for her, and all the pain he must have endured. “I’m so sorry for how I treated you, Dad. I was so cruel without understanding your sacrifices. I’ll never be ashamed of you again.”
Pete pulled her close, hugging her tightly. “You’ll always be my daughter, no matter what.”
From that day forward, Sabrina’s feelings toward her father changed completely. No longer ashamed, she admired Pete more than ever. She was grateful for everything he had done for her and for the love and devotion he had always shown.
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