Derek Ryder’s peers never knew that he had a mother. As his friends shared stories about their parents, Derek would become quiet and distant, unwilling to talk about his own. He avoided bringing friends over, ensuring that no one ever visited his home, not once during his childhood or throughout high school. When he began dating, he would lie to his girlfriends, saying, “Look, babe, my mother is funny religious, she won’t let me date…” This was an attempt to keep his secret hidden: he was deeply ashamed of his mother.
Derek’s mom, Gail Ryder, had only one eye, and the left side of her face was badly scarred. For Derek, this disfigurement made her a source of embarrassment, especially as he grew older. As a child, he hadn’t noticed or cared about her appearance, but by the time he was in school, he saw how others reacted to her. His mother, who he once viewed as just “mom,” was now someone he feared others would judge as “ugly.” One painful memory stuck with him: when he was young, he saw other mothers flinch when they saw Gail, even though she made efforts to hide her scars behind dark glasses and a hat. This experience left him feeling humiliated, and he began pushing his mother away from his life.
Rejecting His Mother’s Love
As Derek entered school, he wanted nothing to do with his mother in public. When she offered to take him to school one morning, he harshly rejected her. “I don’t want you to take me to the gate, mom!” he snapped. “I can walk in on my own.” She pleaded with him, as other mothers took their children to class, but Derek insisted, “You’re a FREAK!” His words echoed with cruelty as he screamed that she would make him a target for ridicule.
From that day forward, Gail never walked Derek to school again. She would drop him off at the gate, tears silently streaming down her face. Yet, Derek didn’t care. As long as Gail stayed out of his public life, he could pretend that everything was fine. He told himself that it was easier to live a lie. He fabricated stories, telling others his mother was reclusive or overly religious, all to distance himself from the reality of her appearance.
Graduation and The Ultimate Deception
As graduation day approached, Derek found himself in an uncomfortable position. He had been named valedictorian, and the headmaster excitedly asked to meet his mother. Derek was faced with a dilemma: How could he bring his mother to the ceremony without everyone noticing her scars? Panicked, he turned to a local agency and hired an actress to pose as his mother. This woman was everything Derek wished his mother could be—pretty, kind-faced, and unscarred.
When Gail saw her son in his graduation attire, she was overjoyed. She eagerly prepared to attend the event, only to be met with Derek’s cold dismissal. “You’re not going!” he said harshly. “I’ve spent my entire life hiding you. Do you think I want you to show your ugly face on the most important day of my life?” His words pierced through her, and she could barely hold back her tears. But instead of pleading, she quietly accepted his cruel treatment. “Oh my son,” she whispered, her voice filled with sorrow, “I’m so sorry…”
Derek, unwilling to face the truth, left without another word. He never spoke to his mother again. Two weeks later, he moved across the country to attend college in California, cutting ties with her completely.
A Shocking Revelation
Ten years later, Derek received devastating news: his mother had passed away. He was informed that she had left him her house and a sizable estate. Astonished, Derek traveled back home to meet with his mother’s lawyer, Terry Arlington, who informed him of her fortune. “Well, Mr. Ryder, your mother left you close to $700,000 plus the house, which is estimated to be worth over $1.5 million…” Arlington explained.
Derek was stunned. How could his mother, who had lived a modest life and supported him through college, have accumulated such wealth? He was unaware of the full story, and Arlington explained that the estate came from an insurance payout and compensation, which Derek had never known about. “Mr. Ryder,” the lawyer continued, “when you were three years old, you approached a strange dog in the park. Your mother saw this and threw herself between you and the animal, saving your life, but at a great cost—she was mauled, blinded, and left with scars.”
The truth hit Derek like a wave. “But… It would have been me…” he whispered, tears welling up in his eyes. The realization that his mother had sacrificed her safety and her face to protect him crushed him. The person he had rejected was, in fact, a hero.
Regret and Redemption
As Derek stood in the cemetery, facing his mother’s grave, he was overwhelmed with guilt and sorrow. “Oh mom,” he whispered, tears streaming down his face, “You saved me, and I treated you so cruelly… Oh mom, forgive me…” The realization of his mistakes weighed heavily on him. From that moment on, Derek vowed to stop hiding his past. He found one of the few photos of his mother wearing her dark glasses to cover her scars and placed it on his desk as a constant reminder of her sacrifice and unconditional love. Every time he looked at it, he was reminded of how selfish and cruel he had been.
Derek’s story serves as a poignant reminder that we should never be ashamed of our parents or loved ones, no matter what they look like. The guilt of neglecting his mother and hiding the truth about her heroism remained with him for the rest of his life. This story is a powerful call to reflect on the people who have supported us and to appreciate their love and sacrifice before it’s too late.
