A Mother's Gift

A persistent knock at the door stirred me awake. It took nearly a minute for my eyes to focus. My alarm clock read six pm. I almost accomplished my goal of sleeping the day away. It’s my twenty-first birthday, a bittersweet day for a variety of reasons. My mother died five years ago today leaving me with horrible birthday memories and a strong desire to skip the day completely. I pushed my blanket back and went through the ritual of a long stretch, rubbing sleep from my eyelids and sliding into my fuzzy slippers. Half dazed I shuffled to the door to find no one there. Seconds before slamming the door shut my eyes caught a glimpse of a brown box positioned in the center of the doorway.

Curiously, I lifted the contents and set them on the dining room table. It read:

Olivia Hamilton

555 Abundance Ln

“I didn’t order anything” I spoke aloud. With little thought, I tore away at the tape. Nestled in a cloud of white tissue paper was a smaller box. I pulled it from its resting place, admiring its sparkly iridescent lid before lifting it. Inside was a slip of paper that instructed me to go to my closet where another box was waiting. Both confused and curious I walked quickly into my bedroom, tossing shoeboxes off of my top shelf until I stopped at a black box I’ve never noticed before. I pulled it down and opened it while sitting on my bed. A beautiful princess tiara sat atop a purple satin pillow. A tiny envelope sat beneath. I excitedly tore at the edges of the envelope until its card was visible. It instructed me to the closet in my spare bedroom I used as an office.

Goosebumps ran up my arms as I entered the tiny space. Nothing looked out of place but there inside the closet sitting on a velvet hanger was a champagne-colored, sequined ball gown. Tears immediately erupted from my eyes as I recalled my sixteen-year-old self, planning my perfect birthday party with my mother. It was our last activity together. Beneath the dress was the rhinestone-studded heels I picked out. A small sash hung around the neck of the hanger instructing me to get dressed and to wait for a knock at the door in an hour.

Completely wrapped up in the moment I jumped in the shower and for the first time, I allowed myself a sense of enchantment around my birthday. For years I dreaded the day I lost my mother, my best friend, and my biggest cheerleader. The dress fit like a charm and felt amazing as I finished applying a light coat of makeup. With only a moment left I fit the tiara on my head as a knocking sound at the door filled my apartment. I walked like I belonged to the royal family to the door where a limo driver stood waiting with the car door open. This was the stuff of dreams. Inside the limo was my father wearing a black and white tuxedo. He smiled from his eyes.

“You look lovely tonight,” He said just above a whisper. I pushed back tears, not wanting to miss anything as the limo headed in a direction I wasn’t familiar with. Finally, the car stopped after going through a large gate. Seconds later the driver opened the door and offered me a hand. Arm and arm my father and I walked through the doors of a beautifully decorated hall where a crowd of my loved ones stood dressed equally amazing. They made a path for us to walk that stopped at a throne. I was speechless a life-size cut out of my mother wearing a lavender-colored gown was propped on the chair. There was a gift box sitting in front of her picture and on top was a familiar little black book.

All eyes were on me as I lifted the little black book and opened it up. The first page was a picture of my mom and me. The second page was the tiara we cut out that now rested on my head. The next page was the very image of the dress I selected along with my shoes. The next was a picture of a black limo and the next was of the beautiful chateau we all were standing in at this very moment. As I continued to flip to the next page I stopped to take a moment to read:

My dearest Olivia,

As we sit and plan for your best birthday ever I hope I’m there to see it, but if I’m not my wish for you is that you embrace life and never miss a beat. Find a million reasons to smile. May each birthday from this day forward be a grand celebration. Your final gift is inside!

An overwhelming feeling of love washed over me as I picked up the gift box. My family and friends all leaned forward to catch a peek. I slowly pulled away the bow and opened each flap carefully as my childhood wish of twenty thousand dollars stared back up at me. A small card sat on top saying:

Yes, It’s All There!