My parents always neglected me in favor of my older sister, but when they missed my wedding, it felt like the last straw. When my best man sent a social media video embarrassing and calling out my parents and sister, things took a turn!

My name is Thomas, and I have a sister, Emily, who is eight years my senior; my parents treat her like a fragile egg.

No, it’s not jealousy speaking, our parents will literally drop anything for her! For years, I’ve had to endure plans being canceled at the last moment because something was going on with Emily.

“Sorry, Thomas, we can’t come to your football game because Em doesn’t feel up to it,” my father would tell me. Our parents even missed my graduation from college because their precious daughter had a difficult day at work.

I’d gotten used to them canceling or missing out on important and not-so-important events because my sister had a meltdown. Despite all the neglect, I still managed to build a decent life for myself, met the love of my life, and proposed.

I was clear with my parents when I said, “I’m worried somehow Emily will ruin another important moment in my life.” “No, Tommy! She won’t this time, we promise!” my parents vowed. I brought it up several times because I was wary of them acting the usual way they did, but they insisted things would be different this time.

However, lo and behold, on my wedding day, my parents weren’t there!

The tension in the air was palpable as I listened to the voicemail again, my best man, Alex, standing beside me, his expression a mix of incredulity and sympathy. “Seriously? Her dog?” he exclaimed, barely concealing his frustration.

“Yeah,” I sighed, a lump forming in my throat. “Just when you think things can’t get any more ridiculous, life surprises you.”

Alex’s face suddenly lit up with a mischievous glint. “What if we flip the script? Turn this into something unforgettable?” he suggested, his enthusiasm infectious despite the circumstances.

“What do you have in mind?” I asked, curiosity piqued.