In a recent Reddit post, a user found herself grappling with a difficult decision regarding her sister’s upcoming wedding and returning to face her abusers.
She Escaped the Cult
Emma’s mother and her sister are members of a religious cult from which Emma escaped two years ago.
The Cult Was Abusive
Having experienced years of emotional and verbal abuse from some of the cult’s leaders, Emma made the brave decision to leave, which led to a strained relationship with her immediate family.
She Tried to Reconnect With Her Family
After leaving the cult, Emma actively tried to rebuild connections with her family, acknowledging her abrupt departure and apologizing for the way she left.
Her Family Didn’t Want to Reconnect With Her
However, she noticed that her family’s primary concern remained her “salvation” rather than nurturing a genuine relationship with her.
This dynamic made it challenging for Emma to establish a sense of normalcy and acceptance within her family.
The Cult’s Dating Practices
The religious cult her family belongs to follows unconventional dating practices, preferring “courtship” instead.
Courtship involves supervised conversations and limited physical contact until the wedding day.
The Courtship
The story began when Emma’s father recently shared a picture of her oldest sister with a man from the church, surrounded by flower petals arranged in a heart shape.
This gesture indicated that her sister had entered into a courtship.
She Waited for Her Sister to Reach Out
Emma refrained from reaching out, believing that her sister should be the one to share the news.
Her Sister Sent a Group Message
A week later, her sister texted their extended family, revealing her engagement.
She Was Shocked
Emma was taken aback, as she found out at the same time as other relatives she seldom communicates with.
She Was Hurt
The manner in which she learned about her sister’s engagement left her feeling hurt and excluded.
She Is in Conflict
Beyond her personal feelings, Emma is genuinely concerned about her sister’s future, given the strict views on marriage and the hasty decision to marry someone she barely knows within the confines of the cult.
She Doesn’t Know What to Do
Now faced with a difficult choice, Emma must weigh up two options. The first is to miss her sister’s wedding, recognizing the growing distance between them but acknowledging the lingering emotional connection from their past.
She Feels Bad About Not Attending
The thought of not witnessing her sister’s big day is heartbreaking for Emma, despite her reservations about the union.
Facing the Abusers
The second option involves confronting her abusers, the leaders of the cult, for the first time in two years to attend the wedding and support her sister, despite the potential emotional turmoil it may bring.
Emma grapples with her decision, questioning whether she would be a jerk if she chose not to attend.
It’s a Logical Choice
She took to Reddit to ask for opinions, and several Redditors sided with her, saying she would not be wrong for not attending her sister’s wedding.
It Would Counteract Your Healing
One Reddit user wrote, “There is way too much baggage on both sides. It would be bad for you and your healing. It would be a distraction that would make the wedding less comfortable for everyone. Maybe you could share a meal with your sister and her new partner with you and your partner prior to or just after the wedding.”
Self Preservation is Paramount
Another Redditor commented, “You are protecting yourself. That’s everyone’s first job. No one can predict if you will regret it, but if you do, think of the additional abuse you would have gotten if you had attended.”
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The post She Escaped a Cult, Her Sister Didn’t. Now She’s Torn Between Supporting Her Sibling or Avoiding Her Abusers at Her Wedding first appeared on Wealthy Living.
Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock /ivan_kislitsin . The people shown in the images are for illustrative purposes only, not the actual people featured in the story.
This post is based on Reddit but the names have been changed.