The Unwrapped Gift

Last Christmas, I remember it clearly. It wasn't an ordinary day at school, there was a Christmas sale near the field where they sell little handicraft items: mini stockings, wooden dolls, handmade jewelry, bookmarks. They were separate little stores with their own inventory. I just browsed around and looked for something to content my mother.

I brought my mother a mini stocking for Christmas. I wrapped it up with wrapping paper and set it under the artificial white decorated tree ready for the special day to come. It waited and waited for the grasp of a hand to open it up. To see the surprised look of the person who opened it.

The days that followed Christmas were cold and filled with misery for the present, still under the tree reading "To:Mom". She still didn't touch it until the following year.

She finally picked it up after I told her, showed her and put it in her face, the present she should have opened the previous year. She held it after I had given it to her, but just put it in a drawer.

I was disappointed, I wanted to see her face, her expression when she saw it, but it wasn't meant to be. She was probably just unaccustomed to the idea of gifts. I don't think she has opened it even now. I just wish I could see her face when she decides to open it. I wish she opened it when the time was right. I realized that she was unaccustomed to the idea, but I still wish I could see her face.