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Description
She woke up knowing that it was Gracie’s birthday. 25 years already? Time sure does fly. She knew that it was on her to make this birthday the best yet; one that Gracie would never forget.

She went to the toy shop – for Gracie really was a kid at heart – and found a display of beautiful soft toys by the entrance. Her eyes were immediately drawn to a pink rabbit with a sad, droopy face. Next to this rabbit was a blue one with a much happier face, and it was this one that she ended up choosing.
“I mean, honestly,” she laughed to the cashier, “Who wants a sad looking toy on their birthday?”
She had the rabbit wrapped in sparkly paper with a shining ribbon; a present truly fit for her darling Gracie.

She went to the bakery and ordered a rainbow sponge. The colours were bright and inviting, almost as if the cake were begging to be bought.
“Gracie loves every colour,” she told the cashier, “So I just know she’ll love this cake!”
The cashier smiled slightly, but said nothing.

Finally, she went to the department store and bought 25 helium balloons, one for every year. She bought one balloon in every solid colour and when there were no more, the remaining balloons were solid colours patterned with ‘Happy Birthday!’ in the centre.
“25 years...” she sighed to the cashier. “Does time really go this quickly?”
Not really listening to the cashier’s response, she took her balloons and left.

At home, the party was ready to begin. She placed the cake on Gracie’s placemat, carefully tied the balloons to the chairs, and placed the sparkly present next to the cake. She stuck 5 pink candles into the cake, lit them, and then sat down at the other end of the table. Quietly, she began to sing.

Like it had been for the past 24 years, nothing happened. The candles burned down to waxy blobs, the balloons began to sink, and the present remained untouched. Finally, she had no choice but to clean up. The silver box on the table did not move as her tears dropped onto the engraving.

Gracie, 1991. Gone but never forgotten.

Description
She woke up knowing that it was Gracie’s birthday. 25 years already? Time sure does fly. She knew that it was on her to make this birthday the best yet; one that Gracie would never forget.

She went to the toy shop – for Gracie really was a kid at heart – and found a display of beautiful soft toys by the entrance. Her eyes were immediately drawn to a pink rabbit with a sad, droopy face. Next to this rabbit was a blue one with a much happier face, and it was this one that she ended up choosing.
“I mean, honestly,” she laughed to the cashier, “Who wants a sad looking toy on their birthday?”
She had the rabbit wrapped in sparkly paper with a shining ribbon; a present truly fit for her darling Gracie.

She went to the bakery and ordered a rainbow sponge. The colours were bright and inviting, almost as if the cake were begging to be bought.
“Gracie loves every colour,” she told the cashier, “So I just know she’ll love this cake!”
The cashier smiled slightly, but said nothing.

Finally, she went to the department store and bought 25 helium balloons, one for every year. She bought one balloon in every solid colour and when there were no more, the remaining balloons were solid colours patterned with ‘Happy Birthday!’ in the centre.
“25 years...” she sighed to the cashier. “Does time really go this quickly?”
Not really listening to the cashier’s response, she took her balloons and left.

At home, the party was ready to begin. She placed the cake on Gracie’s placemat, carefully tied the balloons to the chairs, and placed the sparkly present next to the cake. She stuck 5 pink candles into the cake, lit them, and then sat down at the other end of the table. Quietly, she began to sing.

Like it had been for the past 24 years, nothing happened. The candles burned down to waxy blobs, the balloons began to sink, and the present remained untouched. Finally, she had no choice but to clean up. The silver box on the table did not move as her tears dropped onto the engraving.

Gracie, 1991. Gone but never forgotten.