Amanda’s Story: From Revenge to Forgiveness Amanda grew up without a father—he had abandoned her and her mother when she was just a baby. Her mother later passed away, and Amanda entered the foster care system, carrying a deep resentment toward her father, Robert, who had never returned. Now an ad*lt, Amanda lived in her childhood home, filled with memories of her mother. One day, she saw a newspaper photo announcing her father’s engagement to a younger woman, Carla. The anger she had buried for years resurfaced, and she felt a powerful urge to take revenge. Determined to disrupt his new life, Amanda went to his house. After watching him leave, she broke in through an open window and planted one of her earrings—her late mother’s gift—on his bed. Later, she rang the doorbell, pretending to be his secret lover. When Carla opened the door, Amanda lied, claiming Robert had betrayed her. She “found” the earring in his bed, creating doubt in Carla’s mind. Carla, hurt and furious, broke off the engagement. Amanda walked away feeling satisfied—she had finally made her father suffer. But that satisfaction didn’t last long. A week later, Amanda learned from coworkers that Robert had still married Carla in a lavish wedding. Her plan had failed. Deep inside, she felt empty and defeated. Her mother’s old words echoed in her mind: “Anger is like a heavy stone. You carry it, and it weighs you down.” Amanda realized revenge hadn’t healed anything. What she truly needed was closure. She returned to Robert’s house—not to hurt him, but to confront the truth. When Robert opened the door, he was shocked to see Amanda. She told him who she was, and asked him the question that had haunted her for years: “Why did you leave us?” Robert invited her in and confessed everything—his fear, shame, and the regret that followed him every day. He spoke of his mistakes, how he had spiraled, and how guilt kept him from coming back. Amanda listened, and slowly, her anger melted into understanding. She realized he wasn’t a monster, just a flawed man who had made a terrible choice. In a moment of clarity, Amanda said, “I forgive you, Dad. I can’t carry this pain anymore.” They sat in silence, the years between them slowly bridging. Amanda had found the peace she didn’t know she needed—not through revenge, but through truth and forgiveness