The Heart Never Forgets

FlashNano Day 16: Write a “Sweet 16” story

Dan and Margot sit at the kitchen table talking quietly.

“What kind of party do you think our baby would’ve wanted for her Sweet 16?” Margot asks tears welling in her eyes.

“I’m still trying to wrap my head around 16 years,” Dan says.

“I bet she’d want to wear make-up, learn to drive… and date,” Margot says.

“Nope, no dating until she’s 30,” Dan says with a wistful smile.

“Do you still think about her?” Margot asks.

“Of course, I do. She will always be our first child, our angel.”

“It was so hard, my-,”

“Our,” Dan interjects.

“Our miscarriage…I still think about her all the time and wonder what she would be like.”

At that moment, a sleepy faced little girl in pajamas rushes into the kitchen.

“Mommy! Daddy!” she squeals, “Can I have pancakes for breakfast?”

Margot quickly wipes away her tears as Dan picks up their little girl.

“Squeeze-hug, Mommy!”

Laughing, “Ok, one squeeze-hug coming your way,” as she and Dan hug they squeeze their little girl tightly between them.

“Hey! Don’t squeeze so hard, I’ll pop!” She giggles.

“That’s a Squeeze-hug!” They shout in unison.

“Ok, let’s get this pancake party going! Go get the chocolate chips, sugar-baby!”

Margot tells her daughter.

Dan looks at Margot and mouths, “I love you.” She gently pats her heart and points back at him.

You move forward, but the heart never forgets.