IOpened My Closet on the Morning of Prom to Find My Dress Covered in Black Paint – But Karma Was Not Sleeping

I believed everything was lost when I discovered my ideal prom dress covered in black paint. I had no idea that karma was lurking in the shadows, ready to upend the cruel scheme and wreck the day that some people had spent trying to make perfect at my expense.

Prom was all I could think about when I was eighteen, a senior in high school. I was going to wear the ideal outfit, dance with my pals, and create memories.

My father shared my excitement. The fact that my mother wouldn’t be around to see me was the sole painful moment. It had just been Dad, me, and my stepmother, Carol, since she had died away years ago.

Carol was complicated now, to put it mildly. At the age of 14, she wed my dad, and to put it mildly, our relationship was strained. Not that we argued a lot, but we also didn’t communicate much.

Particularly when it came to her daughter Julia, she always seemed to be thinking about other things. When Carol married my dad, she had already grown up and left the house. We’ve never really talked, but we’ve always been polite to one another.

I therefore had no idea what would happen next.

My pulse raced with excitement as I leaped out of bed the morning of prom. My makeup was ready, my hair appointment was scheduled, and my dress was hanging in the closet. Everything was going to be ideal.

Grinning, I went to my closet to give my outfit one last glance before getting dressed. You know, I just wanted to admire it. However, my heart stopped when I opened the closet door.

“No… no, no, no!” I let out a gasp.

My lovely baby blue gown was ruined. Thick streaks of black paint covered the fabric as it was sprayed all over. I merely stood there, motionless. I couldn’t believe what I was witnessing with my head.

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My eyes filled with tears. “What… how…?” I muttered.

I caressed the torn fabric with trembling hands. It could not be fixed. In a moment, what I had been dreaming about for months was gone. My ideal outfit. My ideal evening.

Tears were running down my face as I ran downstairs. “Carol!” I let out a cry. Carol, my dress was destroyed by someone! It’s—it has paint on it!”

As if everything was fine, Carol was enjoying her coffee while seated in the kitchen. When I told her what had happened, she didn’t even seem astonished. She gave me a bored look as she glanced up.

“Oh no,” she responded in a cool, collected voice. “That is quite awful. Perhaps you ought to take extra care when handling and storing your belongings.”

I fixed my gaze on her, my chest tense. “What do you mean, ‘more careful’?” I insisted. “How on earth is this possible? I found it in my closet.”

Unfazed, Carol took another drink of her coffee. “Perhaps it’s a sign,” she responded with grace. “Perhaps prom wasn’t meant for you after all. You know, it’s not the end of the world.”

I blinked in an attempt to understand what she was saying. “A sign?” I repeated, trembling with perplexity and rage in my voice. “What are you talking about?”

She didn’t even bother to glance at me as she shrugged. It’s just a dumb dance, prom, she remarked nonchalantly. “There are more important things in life.”

I realized at that point. Everything began to make sense—the way she said it, the expression in her eyes. It was her fault. Carol intentionally damaged my outfit.

I was unable to talk. I just shook and stood there, my cheeks still streaming with tears. Carol was indifferent. She returned immediately to her coffee, as if nothing had happened.

My dad entered through the front door, which had just opened.

“Hey, young one! “Is everything prepared for the upcoming celebration?” he inquired, beaming broadly.

However, his smile vanished when he noticed my face. “What’s not right? Why are you in tears?”

With hardly a murmur in my voice, I gestured at the clothing. “Dad, my outfit. It’s wrecked. It has paint all on it.”

His rage reddened his face. “What? How did this come about?” He turned to face Carol, who remained seated and composed as always.

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Carol never skipped a beat. Her voice brimming with insincere concern, “Jack, maybe you should talk to her about her priorities,” “It’s only a dress. Today is Julia’s wedding, and she needs you. It’s not that significant to prom.

I felt like I had been smacked across the face as I looked at her. It had to do with Julia’s wedding. They had hurriedly arranged it, and coincidentally, the date landed on my prom night. Dad had assured me that he would support me, which obviously upset Carol.

I shook my head and replied, “You did this.” “You ruined my dress because you want Dad to go to Julia’s wedding instead of my prom.”

When Carol did look up, her expression was tense with annoyance. “You’re exaggerating a minor issue. It’s just a dumb dance, prom. Julia needs her father to be present for her wedding. Instead of squandering time on your special night, he ought to be with her today.”

My father’s face flushed. What’s wrong with you, Carol? I would be there, I told her. Not even Julia will be the reason I leave her behind.”

Carol glared as she stood up. “Jack, Julia is your daughter! She needs you on this day, which is her wedding. Are you planning to let her go by herself down the aisle?

“And you’re going to ruin her prom night to force me into it?” Dad lost it. Carol, this isn’t a game. You went too far.”

Nude, I just stood there. The realization of how far Carol would go to ignore me devastated my heart. She’s never shown much interest in me, but this was really mean. She saw Julia, of course, as the golden child. I was an afterthought, always in the background. But Dad would have none of it.

“I’m staying with my daughter,” Dad firmly declared. “And if you can’t handle that, then that’s your problem.”

Carol’s expression darkened, but she remained silent. I stood there in the kitchen, my clothing ruined, my heart devastated, and she simply stormed away.

I had to miss prom. not in this manner. I had lost my dress, and I had no other clothes. I was totally powerless.

Dad wrapped his arm around me and murmured softly, “Call Sarah.” Tell her what took place. Perhaps she can assist.”

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I nodded and used shaky hands to take out my phone. My closest buddy Sarah picked up on the second ring. “Hi! What’s going on? Are you preparing?”

I stammered out, “No,” my voice cracking. My outfit is all messed up. Carol—that was wrecked. Sarah, I can’t attend prom.”

A protracted silence ensued. Sarah’s voice became harsh then. “That wicked witch. This is unbelievable. Not to worry, we’ll resolve it. I’ve thought of something. In thirty minutes, come see me at my aunt’s place. She was a seamstress in the past. Bring the outfit.

“Sarah, paint has covered it all. I doubt that—”

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“Believe in me,” she cut in. “Just come.”

With the dress in my arms, we hurried to Sarah’s aunt’s house. I had nothing to lose now, even if I wasn’t sure what could be done. Sarah’s aunt nodded after taking one glance at the dress when we got there.

She said, “Let’s see what we can do.”

We collaborated for a few hours after that. Her aunt was a seamstress, cutter, and magician. My dress had undergone a full transformation by the time she finished. Though it was a different baby blue gown than the one I had fallen in love with, it was nonetheless stunning. She had transformed the dress into a gorgeous off-the-shoulder piece by adding extra fabric to hide the worst of the paint.

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With tears in my eyes, I gazed at my reflection in the mirror. “It’s… it’s perfect.”

Sarah grinned and remarked, “You’re going to look amazing at prom.” “We did it.”

My phone started buzzing just as Dad was ready to snap some photos. Carol appeared more terrified than I had ever heard her.

She asked, “Where’s your father?” “Julia’s marriage is disintegrating! Julia is upset because the caterers are running late and the flowers never arrived! She is yelling that your father isn’t present. He must arrive immediately!”

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I couldn’t resist grinning. Karma.

“He’s with me, Carol,” I stated stoically. “Like he promised.”

My dad was already shaking his head when I hung up. “Julia’s wedding is a mess, huh?”

“It appears so,” I shrugged in response. “But that’s not your problem tonight.”

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Dad grinned. “Not at all. It’s everything about you tonight.”

I felt like a queen when I arrived at prom. This is where I was, after all. I had my dad’s love and support, my best friend by my side, and my stunning, unique outfit. While having a great time dancing and laughing with my pals, I couldn’t help but reflect on how things had worked out.

Karma had done its job, and for that, I am eternally thankful.