"Goodnight my flower," dad said as he kissed me on the cheek. I couldn't convince my dad to let me have that room downstairs, so I made a plan. Overnight I was going to try and move most of my stuff to that other room. Once I get all of my things there, I will tell my dad and he can't say no. I can't wait to start!!
"Goodnight Dad," I whisper as he closed the door. I can hear his light footsteps descending down the stairs. Soon, I heard no more. I waited about an hour in bed before creeping to the stairs. I shuffled down the spiral staircase and looked around. All the lights were off and I heard nothing at all. I slowly moved upstairs again and grabbed everything I could and stuffed it in a laundry basket.
I kept doing this over and over and over. I looked at the clock once I thought it was enough. It said- 5:00 A.M. HOLY CRAP IT'S LATE! I thought. I staggered to the bed and plopped down. I fell asleep immediately.
* * *
"Iris, Iris. Iris!" Dad said, shaking me awake.
"I'm awake, I'm awake!!" I said startled.
"Good. Guess what day it is, Iris?" Dad said slyly.
"Valentines day!!" I cried excitedly. I ran downstairs with dad at my heels. I slid to the dining room on my socks and was shocked at what I saw. Laying on the floor was a chocolate heart, split right down the middle. It was literally a broken heart. It was kinda creepy actually. If it fell of the table, it probably would've shattered, but this.. this was just plain creepy.
"Dad....?" I asked nervously.
"Yes, Iris, I see it," dad said. Was that a smidge of shock to his voice?
"I'm sorry flower. I'll get you another one. It was supposed to be your Valentine's Day gift," dad said sadly.
"Don't worry about it daddy. You didn't have to get me one in the first place."
"I know. I just wanted to get you one since... since this is your first Valentine's Day without-" dad stopped abruptly.
"Mother," I whispered. He was right. It was my first Valentines in my 15 years of life without her in my life. She left my dad last Autumn because they fought a lot. Mom didn't want to move, but dad said we needed to. They never fought, but I guess they thought they'd be better off without each other. Dad took me, and mom took my 13 year old brother, James. I haven't seen him ever since, and never will. Mom and James both died around Christmas when the apartment they were staying in caught in fire.
It's been hard, but since my dad has a really good job, he earns A LOT of money. That's why we live in a big house.
"Well, I guess I better start making the pancakes!" Dad said as he headed of to the kitchen.
"Yes!! I love pancakes!" I said as I headed off to set the table for breakfast. As I was grabbing the plates, I couldn't help but think of what happened a few moments ago. Why hadn't the chocolate heart shatter? Why'd it break in two?