As the sun warmed our backs, Lily and I arrived at Melissa’s family’s Fourth of July barbecue.

But the atmosphere shifted when Melissa’s mother made a cruel, veiled remark about Lily’s scar.

Her faux-concern quickly spiraled into thinly disguised insult, suggesting the scar might ruin Melissa’s wedding photos.

I waited for Melissa to step in and shut it down—but she said nothing, choosing silence over support.

I offered Lily a chance to leave, but she chose instead to speak.

Calmly, she delivered a biting retort, calling out Melissa’s mother for her hypocrisy with a comment about appearances.