A girl who was poor for many years saved up to buy her dream prom dress, but she sold it to help her friend. Seventeen years later, she got surprising news: she inherited a fortune from someone she hadn’t seen in a long time.
Sienna Powell is a 16-year-old girl raised by her single mother. Her father left them, thinking he could be more successful and happier on his own.
Despite promising to help, Sienna’s father never provided any financial support. Her mother, Lisa, struggled to make enough money as a bank cashier.
Sienna did everything she could to avoid putting stress on her mother over the years. She rarely asked for anything beyond what she truly needed and even took a part-time job to help with their bills.
Every time she got a paycheck, she would save a little money in a tin can in her closet. While she didn’t have many wants, she had always dreamed of going to prom since she was a child.
Most of her paycheck went toward their everyday needs, but the little bit she saved in the can was meant for her prom dress. She knew her mother couldn’t afford to buy it, and she didn’t want to ask her to.
On her way home from school, Sienna would pass by a beautiful store that sold custom formalwear. One day, she decided to go inside and ask about a stunning red satin dress.
She was determined to get her dream prom dress from that store and even hung up pictures of it on her wall to keep her motivated. The dress she wanted cost $2,000 because it was made from luxurious Italian satin and tailored perfectly for her.
Sienna often told her best friend, Aaron, about the dress. Aaron was her closest friend, and they didn’t have many other friends.
They had a special bond because both of their fathers had left when they were younger, which brought them even closer together.
Just weeks before prom, Sienna had saved enough money to get her dress made. She went to the store to get measured and chose the fancy Italian satin fabric she had dreamed about for years.
On the morning of the prom, Sienna picked up her dress from the boutique and fell in love with it immediately, even shedding a happy tear.
She told the designer, “It’s so beautiful. I’m so grateful for your help in making my dream come true! I’ve wanted this dress for as long as I can remember!”
The designer was thrilled to see Sienna so happy and helped her with some final adjustments. When Sienna looked in the mirror, she felt like royalty and whispered, “It’s so magical. I can’t wait to wear it tonight. Thank you so much!”
Sienna quickly got ready when she got home. She carefully organized her makeup, shoes, and accessories. Since she and Aaron had planned to meet at school, she had plenty of time.
Just as she was about to leave, Aaron called her, crying. “I’m so sorry, Sienna. I know you’ve been looking forward to tonight, but I can’t go. My mom was just taken to the hospital, and she needs surgery soon.”
Sienna was standing in front of the mirror, admiring the dress she had dreamed about for years, but her focus shifted to Aaron, who was still crying on the other end of the line.
“Aaron, don’t worry. We’ll find a way to pay for your mom’s surgery. Stay strong; I’ll be there,” she reassured him.
After taking one last look at her beautiful dress, Sienna snapped a photo as a keepsake. Without hesitation, she decided to stay with Aaron because she knew he needed her support.
In the end, Sienna chose to skip the prom. After taking a few pictures in her gorgeous dress, she posted it online for sale, starting the bidding at $2,000.
After posting the ad, Sienna rushed to the hospital to be with Aaron. They stayed there all night until her mom picked her up.
The next morning, Sienna was shocked to see so many bids on her dress, with the highest one at $4,200. She quickly ended the auction and sold the dress to the highest bidder.
Sienna couldn’t believe that she had sold her dress for more than double what she had paid. She gave all the money to Aaron to help his mom with her medical expenses.
Aaron and his mother were very grateful to Sienna but felt sad that they couldn’t repay her. Sienna told them they didn’t need to. “You and Aaron have always been kind to me, Aunt Elsie. We’re family, and family helps each other during tough times.”
After the surgery, Aaron’s mom, Elsie, made a full recovery. Although she had to leave her job in the hospital, she saw it as a blessing in disguise.
Since Elsie was a great baker, she decided to start her own bakery. In just a few months, her bakery became the most popular in town, and she needed to move to a bigger place.
As the bakery grew, Elsie opened new locations in different states. She and Aaron eventually moved to another city, while Sienna stayed where she was.
They kept in touch through the internet, but it wasn’t as often as before. Eventually, they led separate lives and married other people.
On her 33rd birthday, Sienna was surprised to receive a big envelope in the mail from “Elsie Adams.”
Inside, she found a letter from Elsie saying she had decided to retire. She no longer wanted to run her bakery and wanted to share her assets with Aaron and Sienna. The letter said:
“Sienna,
I haven’t seen you in years, but I think about the kindness you showed to Aaron and me every day. We miss you, but we’re comforted knowing you’re living a happy life with your husband and children.
Now that I’m retiring, I wanted to make sure my bakery is in good hands. I’ve asked my lawyer to divide the bakery’s assets equally between you and Aaron. You can choose to run the business together or sell your shares. Either way, I hope you accept your share.
You became like a daughter to me when you gave up your special day to help us. You’ve always been and will always be my daughter. I look forward to seeing you again.
With love,
Elsie.”
Sienna was shocked by the letter and couldn’t believe how successful Elsie’s bakery had become. The letter not only made her a millionaire but also reconnected her with Elsie and Aaron, who hadn’t seen each other in years.
Lessons from this story:
True friends support each other: Sienna had been looking forward to prom for years, but she chose to skip it to be there for Aaron.
Good deeds come back around: Sienna sold her dress to help Aaron and his mom without expecting anything in return, yet years later, she received an unexpected reward.
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