Derek Ryder had always hidden his mother, Gail, from the world. Growing up, he felt immense shame about her appearance—she had only one eye, and the left side of her face was scarred. This insecurity drove him to isolate her, ensuring that no one at school ever met her.
As a child, he hadn’t noticed Gail’s scars; she was simply his mom. But as he grew older, the reactions of others began to shape his perception. He noticed how other mothers flinched when they saw her, even when she tried to blend in with dark glasses and hats. When he started school, he declared, “I don’t want you to take me to the gate, Mom!” fearing the humiliation of being seen with her.
Gail, hurt yet understanding, complied. She would drop him off, tears streaming down her cheek as he walked away. Derek felt fine as long as Gail remained out of his public life; he spun tales of her being a religious recluse whenever a friend asked why she wasn’t around.
When graduation approached, Derek found himself in a dilemma. Named valedictorian, his headmaster was eager to meet his mother. Panic surged within him—he couldn’t let her attend. In a desperate attempt to conceal his shame, he hired an actress to pose as his mother, crafting an image of the perfect, unscarred parent he wished he had.
On graduation day, Gail spotted Derek in his cap and gown. “Derek! Is it today? Just give me time to get dressed!” she exclaimed.
“You’re not going!” he snapped, his voice cold. “Do you think I want you showing your ugly face on the most important day of my life?”
Tears welled in Gail’s single eye. “Derek, how can you be so cruel?” she whispered.
“Face it, Mom, you’re a freak!” he screamed, revealing his long-held resentment. “I’ve hired someone to take your place!”
Derek turned away, leaving Gail heartbroken. Two weeks later, he left for college, severing ties with her.
Years later, he received news of her passing. At her funeral, he learned that Gail had left him a house and a substantial estate. Shocked, Derek met with her lawyer, Terry Arlington, who revealed the truth: Gail had been maimed protecting him from a dog when he was three.
Tears streamed down Derek’s face as he grasped the weight of his mother’s sacrifice. “Oh, Mom, forgive me,” he whispered at her grave.
From that day on, he vowed to honor her memory, displaying a photo of her with her glasses on, a reminder of her love and bravery.