A poor girl saved for years to purchase her ideal prom dress, only to sell it to support a friend. Seventeen years later, she received the most unexpected news: she had inherited a fortune from someone she had not seen in years.
Sienna Powell was a 16-year-old girl raised by her single mother. Her father abandoned them, believing he could make it big and live a better life alone.
Although her father vowed to help Sienna financially, he never followed through. So her mother, Lisa, battled to make ends meet with her normal job as a bank teller.
Sienna did her best over the years not to burden her mother. She rarely asked for anything other than what she actually needed, and she even worked part-time to supplement her income.
Every time she earned a paycheck from her part-time work, she would take a little bit and deposit it in a tin can she kept in her closet. While she didn’t desire much, she had one fantasy since she was a child: her prom night.
Sienna would spend the most of her earnings on their daily food necessities, but the small part she saved in the tin can was set aside for her prom outfit. She was aware that her mother could not afford to buy the outfit, and she did not want to burden her with it.
Sienna would walk home from school every day, passing by a gorgeous boutique that sold fitted formalwear. She went into the store one day to inquire about the pricing of a stunning, custom-made crimson satin dress.
She had made up her mind to buy her ideal prom dress from the store and even had drawings of it displayed on her bedroom wall to push her to work hard. Sienna wanted a dress costing $2000 because it was made of the finest Italian satin and fit her exact measurements.
Sienna would frequently brag about the garment to her best buddy, Aaron. Aaron was her closest buddy, although she did not have many to begin with.
Aaron and Sienna found common ground when they realized that their fathers had abandoned their moms when they were young. They bonded quickly and have remained inseparable ever since.
Sienna was able to save enough money weeks before the senior prom to finally get her dress created. She went to the boutique to get her measurements and chose the exquisite Italian satin fabric she’d wanted for years.
Sienna enthusiastically picked up her prom dress from the boutique the morning of. When she saw it, she fell in love and couldn’t stop crying.
“It’s so beautiful,” she gushed at the designer. “Thank you so much for making my dream come true. I’ve wanted this dress for as long as I can remember!”
The designer was thrilled she could make Sienna happy. She helped Sienna fit the outfit, and she looked like a princess. Sienna muttered, “So magical,” as she looked in the mirror. “I can’t wait to wear it tonight. Thank you so much.”
When Sienna arrived home, she hurriedly prepared. She arranged her cosmetics in a row and prepared the shoes and accessories she intended to wear. She and Aaron arranged to meet on the school grounds, giving her plenty of time to prepare.
Sienna was about to leave for school when Aaron contacted her unexpectedly, crying. “I’m so sorry, Sienna, I know you’ve been looking forward to this day, but I can’t make it tonight. My mom was just rushed to the hospital, and I was told she has a couple of days left before she needs to undergo surgery.”
When Sienna answered the phone, she was standing in front of the mirror, staring at herself in the outfit she had wanted for years. Her attention quickly moved to Aaron, who was still crying on the other end of the call.
“Don’t worry, Aaron, we’ll figure out how to get money for your mom’s surgery, alright? Stay strong for her. I’ll be right there,” she assured him.
Sienna smiled as she looked at her garment one more time. “I’m glad I was able to wear you,” she added, taking a photo to remember. She decided to be by Aaron’s side that night because she knew he needed her.
Sienna ultimately opted to miss the prom. She snapped a few pictures in her lovely outfit before taking it off and posting an ad on the internet to sell it. She posted it on a bidding platform, with a starting bid of $2000.
Sienna hurried to Aaron’s hospital bedside once the ad went up. They stayed there all night till Sienna’s mother picked her up.
The following morning, Sienna was shocked to see that the ad had received numerous bids, the highest of which was $4200. When she saw this, she quickly ended the auction and sold the outfit to the highest bidder.
Sienna couldn’t believe her gown had sold for more than double what she had paid. She gave Aaron all of the money so that she could help pay for his mother’s treatment.
Aaron and his mother were grateful to Sienna, but they felt bad because they had nothing to offer her in return. But Sienna told them that they didn’t have to pay her back. She told them:
“You and Aaron have been nothing but kind to me, Aunt Elsie. We’re family, and families help each other out during difficult times.”
Aaron’s mother, Elsie, recovered completely following the procedure. She had to quit her job when she was hospitalized, but she quickly realized that this would be a blessing in disguise.
Elsie was a good baker, so she decided to start her own bakery. Within a few months, her bakery became the most popular in town, causing her to move to a larger space.
Because of the bakeshop’s popularity, Elsie began opening branches in various states. She and Aaron eventually moved on to another place, leaving Sienna behind.
Sienna and Aaron remained in touch via the internet but were unable to meet as frequently as they used to. They ended up living separate lives and marrying other individuals along the road.
When Sienna turned 33, she was surprised to receive a large envelope in the mail. When she saw it was from “Elsie Adams,” she opened it right away.
It found out that Elsie had decided to retire. She no longer wanted to manage her own business, so she divided her assets between Aaron and Sienna. In her letter, she wrote:
“Sienna,
It’s been years since I last saw you, but not a day goes by that I don’t remember your kindness towards Aaron and me. We miss having you with us every day but find comfort in knowing you are now happily living your best life with your husband and children.
The time has come for me to retire, but I wanted to leave my business in good hands. I have asked my lawyer to equally divide my bakeshop’s assets into two, between you and Aaron. It is up to you what you wish to do with your shares – you can either run the business with Aaron or sell it. Either way, I’d like for you to accept your share.
You became my daughter when you sacrificed a special day in your life to save me. You had always been and always will be my daughter, Sienna. I hope to see you soon.
All my love,
Elsie.”
Sienna couldn’t believe what she’d just read and had no idea how huge Elsie’s firm had grown. Elsie’s letter not only made her a billionaire, but it also allowed Sienna, Elsie, and Aaron to communicate after being separated for years.
What can we learn from this story?
People go to great lengths to support those they care about. Sienna had been looking forward to prom for years, but she chose not to attend for the sake of her best friend, Aaron. True friendship is demonstrated by people making sacrifices for those they love.
What goes around, comes around. Sienna did not hesitate to sell her prom dress to assist Aaron and his mother. She did not expect anything in return, but years later she received an unexpected reward.
Please share this story with your friends. It may brighten their day and motivate them.
