I took back the necklace I gave my mom and I don’t even feel bad about it

I know it sounds horrible. I know how it looks. But I don’t regret it.

So a few years ago, I bought my mom this silver locket. It wasn’t expensive or flashy, but I saved up for it and had it engraved with the words “Always With You” on the back. Inside, I placed a tiny photo of the three of us — her, me, and my brother — from when we were little. We had just lost our grandma that year, and I wanted her to have something that reminded her that no matter what, she still had us.

She cried when I gave it to her. Said it was the most thoughtful gift she’d ever received. She wore it almost every day. I honestly felt like I’d finally done something that really mattered to her.

Then… everything shifted. She started dating this new guy. Controlling. Quiet, but in a creepy way. He didn’t like us visiting her too often. Didn’t like how much we called. Didn’t like the photo in the locket.

I noticed she stopped wearing it. One day I asked about it and she said she “misplaced” it. But I knew she didn’t. She didn’t lose things like that. I searched for it when she wasn’t home once, and I found it shoved in the back of a drawer. She had replaced the photo with one of him.

I stood there for a few seconds just… silent. Then I picked it up and put it in my bag.

I didn’t say anything. I didn’t confront her. I just took it back.

It’s been months since then and she hasn’t mentioned it. Maybe she didn’t notice. Or maybe she did and doesn’t want the fight. But every time I see her now, with him hanging off her like some twisted shadow, I feel more sure that I did the right thing.

The locket’s mine now. It’s back in my jewelry box. Still has our old photo in it.

And I think… maybe that’s where it always belonged.