Gratifying their father’s last wish, two little girls visit his grave on his birthday to show him their beautiful outfits. Near the tombstone, they seek two beautifully wrapped boxes with their names on them and a message that touches their hearts.
Iris, 6 years old, and Mariana, 8, missed their father, Brian.
After his passing, they hadn’t been sneaking cookies and ice cream from the kitchen at night, nor had they teamed up to tease their mother. Without their dad, nothing was happy.
“You’re rotting those girls, Brian!” their mother Linda used to say.
“Besides, you always back them up when I tell them off — they steal cookies from the pantry!”
“I can’t help it, they’re adorable!” Brian said. “Sorry, honey, you know I adore you, right?”
That was Brian — always equalizing things out. He was a caring family man. But after his passing, something changed. Iris and Mariana were very quiet, and Linda, well, she stumbled to accept his passing.
After all, her last memories with Brian were horrible. He worsen before her eyes, and she couldn’t help him. After the diagnosis, the end came quickly despite the medical staff’s efforts.
He passed away one early morning during sleep.
The night before, he had informed that the girls visit him in the hospital and stay with him until the very last moment. He probably felt it was his last night with his little daughters. He also asked to speak to them alone.
“On my birthday, I want my girls to look as beautiful as possible, and I’m happy to see what they will wear. Do you promise to visit me and show me your beautiful outfits? You see, Dad might not be with you that day, but you have to promise me you will look your best,” were Brian’s last words that night.
He wasn’t coming back, and Linda was destroyed. She couldn’t recover no matter how hard she tried. The girls, in their innocence, were stronger than her. The funeral had been especially hard; she couldn’t bear to think of him underground.
The day before his birthday, the girls asked their mother to take them shopping. They wanted to gratify their father’s last wish.
“Mommy,” little Iris said,
“Dad loved my pink dress. The one he gave me for my birthday that doesn’t fit me anymore. So I want one the same color.”
“Can you help me choose one, Mom?” Mariana said. “I want it to be Dad’s favorite color.”
“I don’t think I have time, girls,” Linda said. She was still too sad over Brian’s loss. She wasn’t ready for a fun shopping trip.
“But we have to visit Dad!” said Iris.
“And he asked us to wear something beautiful on his birthday.”
Linda’s eyes were full of tears. She was so consumed by grief that she had forgotten Brian’s birthday.
“Did he tell you that?” Linda asked.
“Yes, Dad wanted to see us in pretty dresses on his birthday. We have to visit him, Mommy,” said Iris. “Hurry! We have to go shopping!”
“When did he ask you that?” Linda wanted to know. “I didn’t know. I had no idea he had told you his last wish.”
“The last night we were with him, Mommy,” Mariana shared. “He took our hands and said he wanted to see us in nice outfits on his birthday. I think we should do this for him. I know you’re sad, but would you take us?”
Then she came closer to her mother and muttered in her ear. “I know you miss Dad, but we have to do this for Iris. She’s really interested to wear a pink dress for Daddy.”
Mariana had always been a bright child. She knew things that kids her age would find hard to grasp. Finally, she convinced her mother.
“All right,” Linda said.
“Let’s go shopping, girls! Let’s find the nicest outfits for Dad’s birthday!” Linda said.
“Don’t be sad, Mommy,” Mariana muttered.
The next day, on Brian’s birthday, the girls dressed in their new outfits and walked hand in hand toward his grave.
Once they stood in front of the tombstone, the girls spotted two beautifully wrapped boxes with their names on them, and a small tag on top said it was from Brian.
“Mommy!” Iris turned to Linda and said,
“Look, Dad sent us gifts! Doesn’t he know we’re supposed to give him gifts? It’s his birthday!” and she laughed innocently.
“Surely it seemed like a great idea to him, Iris. Go ahead, open the boxes, girls,” Linda said.
As the two girls unwrapped the boxes, Linda had to bury her tears. Iris smiled cheerfully, while Mariana cried for the first time since their father’s passing.
Inside each box was a beautiful pair of shoes, and a letter from Brian to them.
“Shoes!” exclaimed Iris. “They’re so pretty, Mommy! My favorite color… pink!”
Some angels up here in heaven are surprised to see how beautiful you are! They say you are the most beautiful girls God has ever created. Daddy can see how lovely you look in your outfits, and he wanted you to also wear these beautiful shoes. I hope you like them.
I want you to keep being the same girls who used to raid the pantry for cookies, hiding from Mommy. The next time you visit me, I want to hear your fun stories.
I want you to be happy and smile every day. When you think of me, trust that I’m in a wonderful place and that, from here, I see you and take care of you.
Thank you for visiting me and wishing me a happy birthday, girls. Daddy loves you with all his heart.
When Mariana ended reading the letter aloud, she hugged her little sister. She looked at her mother and thanked her for coming with them. The three held hands and felt the presence of their beloved husband and father around them, knowing he would always be with them.
Linda smiled and muttered, “I love you very much,” and inside, she thanked them for helping her suffer from the pain and giving her the encouragement to live without Brian.
