Golden

Golden.

Glistening in the sunlight.

The smooth, metallic surface felt too fine to touch.

Like a perfectly formed apple, round and shiny

As small as a dollar coin.

Though it weighed much more than you’d think

It was my birthday, thirteen going on fourteen.

My grandma Penny was there.

So was my mom, two aunts, and my brother.

Dinner was immaculate, at least for Applebee's.

It was warm, like a summer day.

Yet cloudy and ever so slightly dark, like fall.

Following dinner, it was time for presents.

The usual gifts came my way.

Money, candy, gift cards, and such.

It was then that Grandma pulled out a little box.

It had a glisten to it, and as white as a pearl

My interest was piqued. 

Careful not to be a bull in a china shop when handling it.

I opened the top, glanced in, and a smile came to my face.

Before me lay a pocket watch.

Its golden shimmer shone like a lighthouse on a dark sea.

It was then when I turned over the precious machine.

On the back, a note was engraved.

But I don’t remember. 

I can’t remember what it said.

Not three weeks later, after bringing it to school and showing off, it was gone.

I panicked one morning, scurrying like a squirrel.

I went through every drawer, every nook and cranny.

It was gone.

Did I leave it at school? In a car?

I still had its case, the one I refused to put it back in out of laziness.

Then Grandma found out.

No anger, or even passive aggression.

I never actually found out how she reacted.

I did know that she would never give me such a gift again.

Hell, I deserved it.

And she never did.

To this day I regret this mistake.

A mistake only a troubled child could make.

This precious little thing was gone forever.