KUALA LUMPUR: A touching graduation ceremony has moved netizens to tears after a graduate's father, who had promised to attend, was unable to make it due to his recent passing, leaving only her and her mother to mark the occasion.
In a TikTok video posted by @notrealputri, the story unfolds with a heartwarming scene of the graduate's parents enjoying a light moment at a restaurant, which sharply contrasts with the emotional footage later shown at the graduation ceremony.
The mother, visibly emotional, attends the event alone, mourning the absence of her husband during such a significant moment.
The graduate, dressed in her cap and gown, prepares for the ceremony with her mother by her side.
Though the mother provides support, she struggles to hold back tears, as she remembers her late husband's promise to be there.
The video's caption reveals that the parents had sacrificed their own education to ensure their children could pursue theirs.
As the ceremony proceeds, the graduate, acknowledging her father's promise that went unfulfilled, says, "He broke his promise."
However, in an attempt to comfort her grieving mother, she reassures her, saying that her father is there in spirit, even if he cannot be seen.
The emotional video has resonated with many, garnering over one million views and 216,000 likes, as viewers share their own personal stories.
User @ftnzkrh_ commented, "My father hasn't been around for 15 years, but my grandfather raised me and always asked about my graduation. He passed away two weeks before the ceremony, and I cried because he broke his promise."
Similarly, @introvertedapril recalled how her father had promised to attend her degree graduation after missing her diploma ceremony. Tragically, he died two months before the event.