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It was one of those dreary, rainy days that reminded Ebony far too much of England. The normal soothing silence that graced the pristine white walls of the home only proved to worsen her mood as she idly stared out a window from her second story study. She hated days like these when she had nothing to do and worse yet was stuck inside, as the British woman wasn’t too fond of any kind of precipitation at all. Leaning back, a steaming cup of her favorite peppermint tea cradled delicately in her tan hands, Ebony allowed a slow sigh to escape her lips before they met the warm liquid.

Slated orbs ventured across the room, taking in the mahogany desk and the matching bookcases that nearly filled the whole span of the walls. They were packed so tight with plenty of books that the violet haired woman could start her own public library if she wanted. One particular book caught her sight despite being wedged in with the rest and seemed to call to her. Ebony knew exactly which book it was even from where she was, not just for the mere fact that all the books were in alphabetical order, but because of the worn spine. Slowly, as if she didn’t tread carefully the book would suddenly disappear; the woman would slip from her post by the window and move, depositing her mug on the desk on her way towards the case.

Manicured nails playfully traced along the other books before stopping at the one she had been focused on. There was a certain trembling in her hesitant hand as it hovered just inches from the book. How could something as simple and plain as an old text cause such an odd reaction in the headstrong female? Quickly she snatched it from its place on the shelf, and then paused with alarm as if she was afraid that her brash behavior might have damaged the book somehow. Realizing her foolish behavior, Ebony took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She needed to calm down; after all, it was just a book.

‘Yeah right, just a book.’ she thought as she reopened her eyes. The thing was, it wasn’t just any old book. It was a cherished memento from her childhood. Now steady digits traced lovingly along the golden, engraved title. The front cover simply read, ‘King Lear by William Shakespeare.’ A personal favorite that still held true even today. Once more she was hesitant, as her fingers twitched at the covers edge, wanting to open it, yet at the same time not. After moments of indecision, a single digit tugging incessantly at a stray lock of lavender, Ebony finally opened the book. There on the inside cover, scrawled in elegant cursive, was a message.

‘To my dearest Ebony,

It only seems like yesterday that we met and yet when days like these come I find myself realizing how long it actually has been. Looking back to the people we were then and to the family we are now, I find that we’ve grown a lot in a short amount of time. I never knew I could experience such feelings of love and joy until you came into my life. In every sense of the word, you are my daughter and nothing will ever change that. You are my most valuable gem and nothing I steal will ever compare. Happy birthday Dove.

Love,
Dad’

A single tear rolled down her cheek before she quickly wiped it away in anger, but it was too late. There was no one around and no distractions, thus she couldn’t hold back the tears that came fast and of their own accord. It didn’t take long for her old pain to resurface and rip fresh wounds into her already scarred heart. After five years, one would think her mourning would be all but finished with, and yet, here she was still mourning for the only father she ever knew, the only family she ever had. Ebony sobbed uncontrollably as she sunk to the wooden floor, the book pressed hard against her chest.

All the pent up emotions she had came flowing out in those drops and as much as she tried to make them stop, she just wasn’t able to. It was too much to remember, but even harder to forget and so her mourning would continue forever it seemed. She mourned because she missed him. But she mourned even more now because of the realization that in a few days she would buy a cake she would never eat and place candles on it only out of tradition. And just as Ebony did every year, she would blow them out and make a wish for her father to return to her. And just like every year prior, the wish would never come true. It never could.