She cried when she found it, tears turning to accusations. I snuck her pink diary out of her backpack and wrote “I U” on the first three blank pages. A silver diary, complete with a real clasp.īack in middle school, we were studying in the kitchen at her house when she ran upstairs to go to the bathroom. I pause on the most important charm, resting in the exact center of the bracelet. My mom grounded me for all eternity, but it was worth it just to see Kimberly’s eyes light up when I popped the cork. I’d snuck a bottle of champagne from my mom’s cabinet to surprise her. My thumb gently traces the pieces of our history, a few of the charms winking at me as they catch the pendant lights.Ī set of teal-and-white enamel cheerleading pom-poms, nearly identical to the pair Kimberly held as cheer captain the night I asked her to officially be my girlfriend.Ī little gold champagne glass, tiny diamond bubbles tracing the rim, a reminder of my elaborate promposal a few months ago.

I lucked out big-time when I found someone on Etsy to help me design them, since I have absolutely no artistic talent whatsoever. I lean closer to examine the six tiny charms, one for each year we’ve been together. Maybe she’ll just kiss me and tell me she loves me and the problem has nothing to do with me in the first place. Maybe when she sees it, she’ll finally tell me what’s wrong.

The sparkling silver charms rattle together as I inspect it, the noise mixing with the muffled sounds of my high school graduation party on the other side of the door. After a couple of failed attempts, my hair and I give up and I focus my attention on the bracelet one last time. My eyebrows knit together as I run my fingers through my unruly brown hair, trying to smooth it down in the way Kim likes. I let out a long sigh and look up at my reflection in the hotel bathroom mirror, double-checking that the bathroom stalls are empty. Just like she always gets when we’re fighting.Įven though, as far as I know, we aren’t fighting, so I’m not even sure what this should be apologizing for. I considered daintier, more delicate bracelets like Kimberly usually wears, but something about this one spoke to me, its silver links solid and sturdy, just like our relationship… most of the time.Ī few months ago, when I ordered the bracelet, it was supposed to be a present to celebrate our graduation, not an I’m-sorry-let’s-make-up gift, but Kimberly’s been quiet lately. I’ve looked at it about a thousand times, but I check it again because I know it has to be perfect, able to fix whatever needs fixing.

The charm bracelet feels heavy in my palm.

Rachael lippincott mikki daughtry