At 60, I Posted a Swimsuit Photo. The Worst Insult Came From the Last Person I Expected (3 of 3)

And I’ll admit it — part of me hopes she felt the sting. Because if my pain taught her even a shred of empathy, maybe it wasn’t wasted.

Still, I know the scar she left won’t vanish overnight. I’m relearning how to love myself, how to reclaim the confidence her words shattered. But one thing is certain: I will never, ever apologize for existing as I am.

If my daughter wanted me to feel small, she failed. Because today, I stand taller than ever.