excluded from my sister's wedding I went on vacation when the wedding fell apart my whole family frantically tried to reach me "you're overreacting it's just a wedding," my mother said i was not invited to my own sister's wedding instead I scheduled a trip days later my relatives blew up my phone i sat there staring at my screen reading the message for the fifth time hey just wanted to let you know the guest list is finalized and we had to make some tough cuts hope you understand love you tough cuts tough cuts i wasn't some distant cousin i wasn't an old family acquaintance whom they hadn't seen in years i was her brother and my sister the same sister I had assisted through every crisis heartbreak and moment of self-doubt had just cut me out as an afterthought i glanced at the screen a slow pang of unbelief spreading into my chest i nearly laughed because this had to be a mistake i took up the phone and called my mother she responded on the second ring her voice upbeat hey sweetheart what's up i didn't bother making small talk i just got a message from Emily she says the guest list is finalized and I'm not on it there was a pause just long enough to prove what I had previously suspected oh honey my mother sighed she always used that voice to make me feel like I was being unreasonable it's just a wedding don't make a big deal out of this just a wedding i felt a hot stinging coil in my stomach "are you serious? " I asked my voice unusually calm "mom I'm her brother how am I not invited to my own sister's wedding? " She produced a tisk sound as if I were a toddler having a tantrum "it's not personal.
" They had to keep the guest list small and mom I cut her off i just saw Emily's Instagram post she invited 150 people silence then a forced chuckle well you know how things are weddings are expensive and maybe they assumed you wouldn't mind skipping this one i felt like I had been hit in the stomach wouldn't mind i asked mom I've been there for Emily through it all i helped her relocate twice when she lost her job we covered half of her rent and I was the one who helped her get over her last breakup but now I'm not good enough to be there on her special day oh stop being dramatic my mother remarked with a sigh it's just one day you're overreacting i laughed briefly and without humor overreacting right i could already predict how things would go i would argue my mother would shrug me off emily would certainly provide a half-hearted apologies later i'd be expected to forgive and forget because that is what I have always done not this time something within me cracked if I wasn't worthy of inclusion then fine I would not be i hung up without saying anything and began browsing through my phone if I wasn't planning to attend Emily's wedding then I was going to be somewhere much nicer i was going on a vacation the more I thought about it the angrier I became i wasn't the type of guy who got upset over trivial matters i had previously let a lot slide emily had repeatedly forgotten my birthday she would only call me when she needed something our mother always wanted me to be the understanding one emily managed to get away with murder but this this was an entirely new level of disdain i wasn't going to sit around moping while my sister and the rest of the family played Happy Little Wedding without me if I wasn't significant enough to be featured then I wasn't significant enough to be present when they needed me i grabbed my laptop and began looking up flights if Emily could have the happiest day of her life then I planned to enjoy the best week of my life it took less than an hour to plan i reserved all-inclusive accommodations at a five-star resort in the Caribbean suite with an ocean view spa services and access to a private beach i had always convinced myself that such a trip would be too pricey not this time i wasn't just traveling for a holiday i was making a statement when the wedding weekend came around I was already on a plane enjoying champagne in first class i made sure to upload a picture legs extended out drink in hand with this caption guess I got cut from the guest list but I think I'll survive the reactions were nearly immediate some of my cousins sent laughing emojis my aunt the only rational member in the family commented "Good for you should have taken me with you. " But what's the best reaction that came from my mother she sent me three texts in a row mom asks "Where are you? " My mom are you seriously missing your sister's wedding over this mother you're being petty petty i wasn't even close to finishing i responded with a photo of the beach complete with white sand crystal blue ocean and a postcard perfect view then I shut off the phone i wasn't about to let them guilt me not this time for the first time in many years I was not putting my family first i was putting myself first and it felt incredible by the time I arrived in paradise I had entirely eliminated any lingering remorse the moment I walked out of the airport the warm ocean breeze touched me bearing the aroma of salt and tropical flowers a private car was waiting to drive me to the resort a stylish black SUV with chilled towels and bottled water in the back seat yeah this was far better than a wedding as we drove down the coast I reflected on how right I had been to accomplish this back home my family was presumably busy preparing for the big day my mother was probably making excuses for why I wasn't present my sister was laughing with her bridesmaids not giving me a second thought but I wasn't treated as an afterthought here here I was the priority my priority the resort was something out of a fantasy the lobby has enormous palm trees blooming within a massive open air architecture that allowed in the ocean wind and the kind of service where you were greeted with a cocktail before you checked in my room unreal floor to ceiling windows and a private balcony and the most gorgeous king-sized bed I'd ever seen i threw down my things strolled out onto the balcony and simply took it all in then just to make matters worse I took a picture of the scenery and shared it with this caption when one door closes another one opens preferably to a beachside suite with unlimited margaritas i knew it would find its way back to my family and honestly I hoped it did because for once they could understand what it was like to be left out and I was only getting started the first full day of my trip was simply fantastic i began the morning with room service which included fluffy pancakes fresh fruit and coffee that was so wonderful it ruined every cup I'd ever tasted then I spent the entire day doing precisely what I wanted no responsibilities there's no family turmoil just me the ocean and a timet focused only on my own enjoyment by the afternoon I was lounging on a sunbed by the infinity pool martini in hand watching the waves roll in every so often I'd check at my phone not to check in with my family but look at the growing amount of responses to my vacation blogs the comments were gold cousin Jake bro where are you even aunt Lisa okay now you're just showing off an old college acquaintance says "Dude invite me next time.
" Finally I received a notification that made me smirk emily saw your article oh now she was paying attention i could just imagine her reaction sitting in the bridal room sipping inexpensive champagne scrolling through Instagram only to see me having my best life while she is anxious about her wedding good i leaned back took another sip of my beverage and thought "Enjoy your special day sis i hope it's all you wanted. " However when the sun began to set something unusual occurred my phone started to explode initially I ignored it i figured it was just more people reacting to my photos but then I noticed these names mom Emily cousin Jake even Uncle Rob call after call texts are coming in non-stop i raised an eyebrow and eventually opened my phone the first text I saw was from my mother mother call me it's an emergency is there an emergency attending the wedding i sighed debating whether I really cared jake then sent another message jake's reaction dude you are not going to believe what just happened oh now I was curious i sat up and scrolled through the texts and I quickly understood that the universe had given me the nicest wedding gift I could have ever hoped for because as it turned out Emily's beautiful wedding had gone up in flames i scanned through a torrent of messages my sneer grew with each one jake replied "Bro you dodged a bullet mother call me right now this is a family crisis emily please where are you i need you. " I stretched out in my lounge chair i took another drink of my cocktail and continued scrolling then I discovered a message that made me laugh out loud according to cousin Melissa the groom simply walked out i almost choked on my drink did the groom leave oh this was better than I could have expected curiosity got the best of me so I eventually texted Jake back my response what do you mean he left jake dude during the reception full meltdown he and Emily had some huge fight and then he just walked out straight up left the venue jake again oh and then Uncle Rob and dad got into a screaming match over who was ruining the family's reputation grandma cried the venue cut the bar early it's a mess i leaned back smirking my sister had refused to let me attend the wedding believing that she didn't need me and now suddenly I was the first person they all ran towards i could already hear my mother's voice in my brain you need to fix this emily is devastated yes no thanks i opened the following message it came from Emily emily says "Answer your phone please i need you.
" Oh suddenly I was significant i took a deep breath and typed back a single response me: Sorry I'm a little busy enjoying my overreaction hope the wedding was fun and then I blocked her phone number i blocked my mother i also blocked Jake just in case he got drawn into their guilt trip operation then I turned my phone to do not disturb mode waved over the bartender and ordered another drink because while my family spiraled I was in paradise and for once I wasn't bothered the following morning I awoke to the sound of waves breaking on the shore the aroma of sea and tropical flowers wafted through my open balcony doors i stretched and yawned and for one lovely minute I almost forgot about the pandemonium at home almost then I looked at my phone even though I blocked the majority of my family I still had more than 20 missed calls from random numbers they tried everything to contact me several voicemails had slipped through despite my better judgment I pressed play on the first one mom's voice frantic i don't know what you think you're doing but this is not the time for one of your tantrums your sister is devastated and we need you here this family needs to stick together right now i rolled my eyes before deleting it next voicemail emily is crying i don't understand why you're doing this you're my brother i need you please just call me back click deleted the following one had me laughing jake whispered as if he were hiding in a closet dude mom and Aunt Lisa are planning to show up at your apartment when you get back just a heads up also grandma keeps saying the wedding was cursed because you weren't there it's hilarious was that a voicemail i've saved i tossed my phone on the bed and stepped out onto the balcony the sun had just begun to rise creating a golden glow over the ocean i took a deep breath allowing the warmth of it to sink in back at home my family was scrambling to perform damage control meanwhile I was here sipping espresso while wearing a bathrobe enjoying the best decision I'd ever made and the best part they were now feeling what I had felt when they cut me out unwanted forgotten left out it was rather poetic actually but I wasn't finished yet i grabbed my phone i took a photo of my breakfast which included fluffy pancakes fresh fruit and a mimosa that was so brilliant it might blind someone and posted it with this caption starting my day stress-free hope everyone back home is doing okay then just for fun I went through my blocked messages grinned at all of the missed calls and ordered another mimosa i didn't intend to call them back allow them to clean up their own mess i was on vacation by midday I was relaxing under a secluded cabana sipping a tropical drink with an umbrella when my phone vibrated again this time the message came from cousin Melissa melissa okay I know you're mad and honestly you deserve to be but you have to hear what happened after the wedding call me you're going to love this i raised an eyebrow melissa has always been the only cousin with a brain if she mentioned that I needed to hear anything it was probably worth the time so despite my better judgment I called her she answered the first ring "oh my god you're finally answering," she said unable to contain her joy "okay are you sitting down? " I gazed about in my shaded cabana the vast ocean in front of me and the chilled beverage in my palm "yeah I think I'm in a good place for whatever this is. " Melissa let out a breathless laugh okay after the groom left Emily had a complete meltdown and I don't mean a few tears i mean yelling wailing and throwing objects at the wedding party i smirked sounds about right melissa continued her voice brimming with enthusiasm everyone was attempting to calm her down mom overheard Aunt Lisa suggest that the disaster could have been avoided if you'd been there I blinked wait what melissa giggled yes she was saying that you've always been the one to mend problems when Emily spirals that if you were present you would have talked sense into the groom or handled everything like you normally do i burst into laughter so let me get this straight the same family that barred me from the wedding is now blaming me for not being present to preserve it oh it gets better Melissa remarked mom told Lisa she was acting ridiculous and then they started fighting loudly then grandma became involved saying Emily brought this on herself because she offended the cosmos by not inviting her brother i almost choked on my drink melissa was cackling now grandma lectured Emily in front of everyone stating "If you had treated your family better you wouldn't be alone in your wedding dress right now.
" I leaned back smirking wow that's beautiful oh and then Melissa said "Your mother attempted to contact the groom's family to resolve the situation. " His mother just smiled and said "This is your issue now. " I had to set down my drink before I spilled it from laughing so hard "so," I said collecting my breath "where does that leave Emily?
" Melissa sighed still weeping still blaming everyone except herself last I heard she was trying to save the wedding with some sort of backup plan but let's be honest she's not going to recover from this i shook my head grinning you know what the best part is what i took a slow sip from my drink i don't care melissa roared with laughter honestly I don't blame you i just thought you'd appreciate knowing that karma did its job oh I love knowing that I remarked smirking thanks for the update Melissa no problem she replied enjoy your trip and for the record you did the right thing i hung up more satisfied than I had been in years they wanted a wedding without me and now thanks to their own selfishness they had a disaster instead i grabbed up my drink and raised it to the heavens and I toasted to the best decision I've ever made then I turned off my phone and relaxed back in my cabana let the beach air sweep away the rest of my shame for the remainder of the day I didn't look at my phone instead I scheduled a sunset cruise allow the warm breeze to wash over me and had a five-star meal by the seaside my family was still picking up the pieces from Emily's wedding tragedy i was enjoying the greatest steak I'd ever had at some point a notion occurred to me perhaps I should feel sorry for her then I remembered how she left me out without hesitation yes no i took a sip from my wine i took one last shot of the view and shared it with one caption zero regrets finally with a contented smile I turned off my phone again let them stew i was done being their backup plan the following morning I awoke feeling lighter than I have in years there is no guilt there will be no tension there were no last minute family emergencies that became my job to solve just myself and the sound of waves and an entire day of nothing but rest i stretched ordered room service and out of curiosity I turned my phone back on a big mistake within seconds my notification surged mom said "You need to stop acting like a child and call me. " Emily's response i can't believe you're doing this to me you are so selfish your mother this isn't funny emily is heartbroken do you even care unknown number possibly my aunt we need to fix this family before it's too late i groaned and shook my head it was almost surprising how swiftly they moved from ignoring me to expect me to cure everything then one message struck my attention melissa okay I understand you are ignoring everyone but please read this your mother is trying to gather the family for a discussion when you return just a heads up i almost laughed aloud oh they assumed I would return as if nothing had happened as if I'd just come up and let their guilt trip me and pretend the entire thing never occurred yeah not happening i quickly replied to Melissa you thanks for the warning but I won't be there melissa says "Wait what do you mean?