I agreed to read a poem at the vow renewal and 25th-anniversary marriage ceremony of my biological father and stepmom last year, but I really don't want to do it. 

Why?
- I generally don't enjoy being around my dad and my stepmother's family.
- Fear of public speaking 
- I agreed to do it two minutes after my stepmother texted me and asked to do back in September. I felt obligated...
- Within weeks of being asked to read the poem https://poets.org/poem/how-do-i-love-thee-sonnet-43], I learned by accident that my Dad cheated on my mom with my stepmother. They met at their church. You see, my biological parents attended separate church services when they were married, and the rest is history.

To be honest, I don't care about my dad's cheating as much as I care about not wanting to read this poem to a large group of people during a formal ceremony. I do not like my voice nor do I care to read a poem in an engaging manner. I'm afraid I'll read it in a monotone-Daria tone, and embarrass myself. 

Subconsciously, I think I came up with using my father's infidelity as an excuse to get out of this.

FYI: I would never tell my father and stepmother I know about the cheating. If I back out, I'll tell them I don't want to read a poem in front of large group of people, which is the truth. 

What say you?

I'm thinking, "Grow up and just go and get it over with." Or pass on the poem but attend the ceremony.

P.S. I'm Black, and yes I really did say, "stepmother" Shout out to my partial suburban upbringing at work. 

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