~
By the time all my family members had left, very little cake remains and I have opened most of my presents. I still have a few cards left, and the odd gift that has been shoved into my hand at the last minute. It only takes me one trip upstairs to carry all my new belongings into my room, and most of it is money, but I deliberately leave my Lego downstairs so I can build them later. After opening my cards, I am left with 3 little packages in front of me. I grab the one closest to me on the right and peel away the sellotape, tearing the wrapping paper away from a small, cardboard, navy blue box. The writing on the note that fell out from the lid states:
"To Rach, Love Matty"
Hmm. I never recalled him giving me anything separate from his family gift before. Oh well. I try to ease open the lid, the curse at my pitiful weakness as it sticks. I shove my fingernails between the gap and pull hard. The top slips off painfully slowly. Inside is a pool of minuscule silver chains, and embedded between them is a tiny sapphire droplet of water with an 'R' carved into the front in an elegant silver font. I smile, it is a very sweet thing for him to do. I remind myself to thank him later, not that I'll remember. I am blessed with the memory of a goldfish, which is fitting as I am an extraordinarily good swimmer, (if I may say so myself). I tip the necklace into my hand, the small links clinking delicately in my palm. I feed it underneath my long hair and around my neck, fixing the clasp at the front then pulling it round to the back. It sits comfortably just under my collarbone, the coolness of the metal relaxing me. I grab the top of my T-shirt and pull it over the charm so that my parents don't pry and question its existence, before turning to my remaining gifts. They turn out to be a small pot of aqua-themed eye shadows with waterproof mascara, and a giftcard of £10 for WHSmith. Great, that gives me an excuse to buy more books! Perfect. I smile to myself, then shove my presents to one side as I grab a book and start reading.
~
