May had always been a hard month. School was almost over and the search for a fun summer vacation began. Of course, with the end of school came the stress of upcoming finals and planning out the following year’s classes. My friends and I would have study groups every weekend to prepare for our exams. Once school ended we would try to coordinate our schedules to allow time to hang out and have sleepovers. Everything had been going smoothly on May 18, 2013, when I was called down to the office after my last exam of the day.

My mother had planned to pick me up early to go summer shopping, but she was over an hour early. I thought nothing of it as I rounded the corner and saw my mother through the office window. I smiled until I realized she was crying. I swung the door open and she turned to me and sobbed, “Papa’s dead.”

The next few months passed in a blur as the family gathered for the funeral. Ever since his passing, May had been a depressing month for our family, especially my mother. She would isolate herself in her room and lie in bed all day. She became this lifeless shell of the person she used to be as she mourned the loss of her father. This May was no different, as I observed the usual signs of her mourning begin to show.

I was tired of watching her struggle to cope on her own. My father and I would try to coax her out of her room to engage in a fun family activity to distract her, but she always refused. I knew she didn’t want to appear weak, but it was obvious that she was in pain and her method of coping was proving to be ineffective. I refused to sit by idly and let my mother suffer. I was going to do my best to make this May less depressing.

My grandpa was a sucker for sweets. His favorite treat was red velvet cake with a scoop of my grandma’s homemade chocolate ice cream on the side. My grandma hasn’t made it since Grandpa died, and I figured that I would surprise my family by making the dessert. I found the recipe for the ice cream and the cake in the recipe box and after making a list of the necessary ingredients, I drove to the grocery store.

On my way to the grocery store, I passed by a jewelry store. My mother loved jewelry, especially necklaces, I turned back and headed it. Walking in, I saw cases of rings and bracelets lining the wall to the left and cases of necklaces and earrings on the right. I made my way to the necklaces and smiled at the cashier.
“Looking for anything in particular?” she asked with a cheery smile.

I shook my head and replied, “No, I’m just looking, thanks.” She nodded and picked up the magazine lying on the counter. I searched aimlessly through the necklaces, not finding anything I liked. I was almost ready to give up when a gold locket caught my eye. It had a long chain and was in the shape of a heart with the words You’ll always be in my heart engraved on it.

“How much for this locket?” I asked the cashier. She told me the price and rang it up after I confirmed that I wanted it. I left the store and drove to the grocery store. Once I had bought all the ingredients, I made my way home. I dropped off the groceries in the kitchen, took the locket to my room and hid it in my jewelry box. I went to the living room. My mother stored all of our photo albums in the cabinet underneath the TV in the living room. Opening the door, I grabbed the one nearest to me.

I retrieved my laptop from my room and copied the pictures I wanted. I printed them small enough to fit the locket, cut it to size, and placed them inside the necklace. Glancing at the clock, I saw that I only had five hours until my mother got home, so I walked to the kitchen to begin making the cake and ice cream.

I had just finished decorating the cake when I heard the garage door open. I took off my apron and threw it into the laundry basket and grabbed the locket from my room, then rushed back to the kitchen just as my mother walked in. “Hey mom. How was your day?” I asked softly.

“Alright,” she muttered under her breath. She slipped out of her shoes and hung her purse on the coat hanger. “Yours?” she asked with a sigh.

“Good. I have a surprise for you,” I said excitedly. She looked at me in confusion but her eyes widened at the sight of the cake and the ice cream.

“Is that…?” she trailed off, walking toward the cake. I smiled and nodded, placing the box with the locket on the counter next to the cake. Her vision shifted to the box and she arched a brow.

“What’s that?” she questioned.

“It’s for you. Open it,” I encouraged. She gave me an apprehensive look and picked up the box. She slid the cover off and froze at the sight before her. Tears welled in her eyes as she gently grasped the locket and lifted it out of the box. She opened the clasp and gasped at the pictures of her and her father inside. Tears streamed down her face. I reached out to place my hand on her back in a comforting gesture and she turned and embraced me.

She pulled back to cup my face and said, “Thank you, baby. I know it’s been hard on you, with school and everything, but I really needed this.” I could feel my eyes burning with tears, so I quickly blinked them away before replying.

“You don’t have to hide, Mom. I can tell when you’re hurting and I’ll always be here when you need me. Dad and grandma, too,” I told her. She nodded her thanks and let go of me. She turned to the cake and a smile lit up her face.

“Well, we better not let this go to waste, huh?” she said cheekily. I laughed and grabbed two plates and two bowls as she sliced the cake. As she placed a slice on my plate, I couldn’t help but smile. For once, May wasn’t going to be the most depressing month of the year.