Her biggest present was a used car.
Nothing fancy.
But hers.
When David handed her the keys, she screamed.
“Oh my God!”
She threw her arms around him.
“You actually bought it?”
He laughed.
“No, that’s a random car I stole for the occasion.”
She hit his shoulder.
Everyone laughed.
I remember watching her and thinking how happy she looked.
For years, her happiness had always been the reason we waited.
Not today.
After the presents were opened, David stood.
“Can everyone give us a minute?”
I looked at him.
Immediately, I knew.
My sister knew too.
Her expression changed.
“No,” I whispered.
David finally met my eyes.
He wasn’t angry.
He simply looked decided.
“Today is the day.”
My heart began pounding.
“Hannah looked between us.
“What’s going on?”
My mother stood first.
“Come on, everyone. Let’s give them some privacy.”
People began gathering plates and moving away.
Hannah’s friends looked confused.
My family looked terrified.
I wanted to stop it.
But suddenly, I couldn’t think of a single sentence that would make the situation better.
David walked into the garage.
A minute later, he returned carrying a wooden chest.
I had never seen it before.
Not once.
Almost eighteen years in the same house, and somehow I had never known it existed.
The chest was handmade.
Dark wood.
Uneven corners.
Imperfect hinges.
