My Stepmom Gifted Me a Funerary Urn for My 17th Birthday

I always knew my stepmom, Monica, wasn’t exactly the nicest person—annoying, yes, but not evil. She was the type who would talk over me, forget my birthday, and call me “kiddo” even though I was practically an adult.

But what she did on my 17th birthday? It was the final straw.

It all started after my mom, Sarah, passed away when I was ten. After that, it was just me and Dad. We were a team—movie nights, pizza dinners, and a mutual understanding that we had each other’s backs, always.

Then Monica came along about three years ago. She wasn’t the worst, just kind of… there. She moved in, slowly took over the bathroom with her endless beauty products, and managed to inch her way into Dad’s life, whether I liked it or not.

Monica had dreams—big dreams—of opening a hair salon. I didn’t have a problem with people having dreams, but I had my own, too, and she treated me like I was an inconvenience that came with the house.

But I had a plan. College was my way out, and Dad had promised me from the time I was little that there was a college fund waiting for me. “Your mom and I set it up when you were five, Lila,” he’d say. “It’s all there, and I add to it every year.”

So, I worked hard in school, counting down the days until I could leave for college and start a life of my own.

On the morning of my 17th birthday, I wasn’t expecting much. Maybe some pancakes, a card—Dad was at work, so it was just Monica and me. But when Monica handed me a gift bag, things took a weird turn.

Inside the bag was a pink funerary urn. Yes, you read that right. An urn.

I stared at it, completely confused. “What the hell is this?” I asked.

Monica leaned against the kitchen counter, a smug look on her face. “It’s symbolic,” she said as if that explained anything.

“Symbolic of what?” I asked, already feeling a sinking feeling in my stomach.

Monica smiled wider. “It’s time to bury your college dreams, kiddo. Your dad and I decided to put that fund to better use.”

“Better use?” I repeated, my heart racing.

“Yep. We used it to help me open my salon. College is a gamble, Lila. But a business? That’s a real investment.”

I was frozen. Had they really taken my future, my college fund, and sunk it into Monica’s dream? How could my dad have let this happen?

“Life’s full of disappointments,” she added, as if that was supposed to be comforting.

I ran upstairs and slammed my door, sobbing harder than I ever had. Everything I’d worked for, everything my mom had wanted for me, was gone.

For the next few days, I barely spoke to either of them. Monica pranced around like she owned the house while I sat with the urn on my desk, a twisted reminder of what I had lost.

Then, a few days later, something strange happened.

When I got home from school, there was a note on my desk in Monica’s messy handwriting: Meet me at the salon at 6 P.M. tonight. No questions. Just trust me.

I almost laughed. Trust her? After what she did?

But my curiosity got the better of me, and against my better judgment, I went.

When I arrived at the salon, the lights were off, but the door was unlocked. Hesitant, I stepped inside. There, in the middle of the room, were Monica and my dad, both grinning.

“Surprise!” Monica shouted.

I was speechless.

“Look,” Monica said, stepping aside to reveal a shiny new sign on the wall: Dream Cuts: A Scholarship Fund in Honor of Sarah.

“What is this?” I asked, completely lost.

Monica’s smile softened. “We didn’t use your college fund, Lila. It’s all still there. The salon isn’t just for me—it’s for you, too. And for others like you. A portion of the profits will go toward funding scholarships in your mom’s name.”

I blinked, feeling like the ground was shifting beneath my feet.

“But… why make me think otherwise?” I asked, still trying to wrap my head around it.

Monica winced. “Yeah, the urn thing… That was not my best idea. I thought it would be motivational, like burying the past and embracing the future. Turns out, it was just creepy.”

Dad stepped forward, placing a hand on my shoulder. “We’ve been planning this for months. Your mom always wanted to help kids get to college. This way, her dream lives on.”

I stood there, stunned, my anger melting into something softer.

Monica looked at me earnestly. “I’m not trying to replace your mom, Lila. I just want to build something meaningful, something that helps you and others. I know I haven’t been the best stepmom, but I hope this can be a fresh start.”

For the first time in a long time, I smiled.

It wasn’t perfect, and maybe things with Monica never would be. But in that moment, standing in a salon named for my mom, I realized she wasn’t trying to destroy my future—she was trying to honor it in a way I hadn’t expected.

And yeah, I kept the urn. I planted peace lilies in it. Maybe it wasn’t the symbol Monica had intended, but it had become something new. A symbol of hope.

What would you have done in my shoes?

What You See First Unveils the Secrets of Your Character

It would seem logical that we’d be the ones to know ourselves the best. Yet, life has a peculiar way of springing surprises on us. Every now and then, we stumble upon unknown aspects of our character, taking us by complete surprise. Now, we’ve prepared a fun, visual test for you. Who knows? You might just uncover new facets of yourself that were hidden until now. Enjoy this journey of self-discovery!

What did you see first?

1.

  • Frog: You are very honest and straightforward while communicating with other people. You are self-assured and expect everyone else to treat you in the same manner.
  • Horse: You aren’t known for your impulsiveness, but on the contrary, you over-analyze everything. That’s because you prefer to see things for yourself and not let others guide you.

2.

  • The lock: You love to explore what you don’t know, learn new things, and get out of your comfort zone. You may be interested in someone, so be sure to talk to that person.
  • The crying figure: You need to pay more attention to your feelings and listen to your wishes. At the same time, you need time to relax and clear your mind.

3.

  • The face: You are a social person and curious about the lives of others. For you, everything is unique and interesting. You pay attention to what is, instead of the details.
  • The fish: You are happy with your life. You believe in luck and a happy future. For you, the glass is always half full and details are very important to you.

4.

  • An open door: You are ready for changes and are going in the right direction. You face the future without fear but rather, excitement. You are a source of inspiration for others.
  • The musical note: Expressing yourself is important to you. You feel you have something important to share with the world. Don’t look back and take risks.

5.

  • A car: The world is full of mysteries to you. It is also made of many different things that always stimulate your imagination.
  • A person with binoculars: You are nice to others, and are not critical of them or yourself.
  • The letter “A”: Your mood swings are real, but not extreme. You can go from happy to sad. Remember to balance life and work.

6.

  • A crocodile: Your life is full of many colors and you have a creative approach to everything.
  • Mountains and water: You are neither very conventional nor very individualistic. You are usually optimistic and tend to be constructive.
  • People on a boat: You are sociable and get along well with others. You are adventurous and adapt easily to social situations.

7.

  • Rabbit: You are more of a technical person than a caring one because the left hemisphere of your brain is dominant.
  • Duck: In this case, the right hemisphere of your brain dominates the left, so you are very “human” when it comes to your personality.

Our childhood greatly influences our character and behavior. Here are several parenting decisions people don’t realize can have a domino effect.

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