My stepmom laughed at the prom dress my little brother made for me out of our late mom’s jeans. By the end of the night, everyone knew exactly who she was.I am 17. My brother, Noah, is 15.Our mom died when I was 12. Dad remarried Carla two years later. Then Dad died last year from a heart attack, and the whole house changed overnight.She took over the bills, the accounts, the mail, everything. Mom had left money for me and Noah. Dad always said it was for “important things.” School. College. Big milestones.

Apparently, Carla decided her definition of “important” was different.Prom came up a month ago.She was in the kitchen scrolling on her phone when I said, “Prom is in three weeks. I need a dress.””Mom left money for things like this.”That made her laugh.Not a real laugh. One of those little cruel ones. “That money keeps this house running now.”Then she finally looked at me and said, “And honestly? No one wants to see you prancing around in some overpriced princess costume.”I said, “So there’s money for that.She stood up so fast her chair scraped. “I am keeping this family afloat. You have no idea what things cost.”