Now that he’s gone, I fear I won’t remember him when he gets back. Dad left when I was thirteen; my brother and I hardly remember his face when he left, or what color his eyes were. Mom won’t even talk about it. She says he broke her, but I don’t understand what she means. Regardless, when my birthday comes around, I still ask for one simple thing – a gold locket shaped like a heart. But I always get the same response, “What good will that do?”

Even though she doesn’t approve, I ask for it anyway, hoping one day before his seven years are up, I’ll wake up to the sight of that jewelry box, hugging the most beautiful locket in the world. 

This year for my birthday, that isn’t the case. As I woke up on this sunny morning, I was welcomed by birthday balloons, streamers, and my brother in the kitchen making me my special birthday breakfast, pancakes with strawberry sauce. The sweet scent hits my nostrils as soon as I enter the kitchen. 

“It’s the birthday girl!”, my brother shouts. “Hurry up and eat before it gets cold.”

My mom walked into the kitchen holding a box in her hand. My eyes widened at the sight, but when I opened it, it was a beaded bracelet with matching ruby earrings.

            “Gee, thanks, mom.”

            “Do you like it?” 

            “You know I do.” I turned my head so she couldn’t see the tears trickling down my face.

            “Okay, good.”

I took a bite of my scrumptious pancakes and got dressed for the day. I chose my pink dress. Every year before my birthday, I go to the mall with my friend, and we pick out a new pink dress for my birthday. When I was younger, my dad always dressed me in pink outfits. I used to think I was a pink fairy princess with a gold magic wand, able to make all of my dreams come true. If I actually could, I’d make my locket appear no problem, but for now, I’ll just keep dreaming. 

            “Sis! Come on! Grandma and Grandpa are here,” my brother shouted from the bottom of the stairs. I ran down the stairs and greeted them with a big hug. 

            “Happy Birthday sweetheart. Come, sit down. The birthday girl has one more gift to open,” my grandma said with glee. I hugged my grandpa and then sat on the couch with my grandma. 

            “You didn’t have to get me anything.”

            My grandma replied, “The birthday girl always gets everything she wishes for.” She handed me a little pink box and as I opened it, I couldn’t believe my eyes. Staring up at me was the golden locket I’d wished for since he left. 

            “It’s beautiful…” is all I could utter as she took it out of its box and hooked it around my neck. “It’s beautiful…”