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It was her eleventh birthday, and I’d convinced my mom to send me to Cuba early as a surprise, wanting to make it special.
As soon as I’d arrived, I threw my stuff in my room, then ran straight for her house, singing happy birthday at the top of my lungs. She’d jerked open her door, a surprised look on her face. She had squealed in excitement then jumped into my arms, demanding I start all over again.
I’d immediately headed down the street, singing and laughing until I finished it with a big breath and a flourish, my chest swollen with pride at the happiness on her face. Then I took her shopping, demanding she pick whatever she wanted for her birthday.
As we walked, I’d threaded Tatiana’s fingers through my own, pointedly ignoring the looks of disapproval on Father Hector’s face, as well as the tutting scowl from Maria Angela Lupita, the old hag who ran the elementary school, as we passed them by.
I’d been lectured a hundred times from each of the two that a boy of my background and blood shouldn’t hang out with Bogdan Krapivnik’s daughter, a lowlife, and an immigrant, no less. But those people didn’t bug me, I could do whatever I wanted and they couldn’t touch me, the jerks.
In less than an hour, Tatiana had turned down two dresses, a pair of diamond earrings,real ones, and a stuffed animal.
Ughhh. Girls, they were so annoying. When I’d demanded she tell me what she wanted, she said she wanted somethingperfect, something special. Something that no one else could get her.
So now, the water above me flickered and danced as the waves crashed against the slimy green posts. I swallowed down the air bursting to escape my lungs and dove deeper, my eyes straining along the sandy bottom.
There was a flash of pink and I reached out, ignoring the curious school of yellow and black fish flickering around me. I picked up a shell—it was the perfect round shape but it was too small. I tossed it to the side and headed further into the ocean, brushing away a broken up fishing net.
I didn't glance upward, but I could feel Tatiana's presence behind me. I really wanted to get her something no one else had but I was already running out of air—my lungs were about to burst.
Finally.
I grabbed the biggest shell I'd ever seen and pulled it close to inspect it. It was a soft cream with an iridescent inside. It also had a bunch of ridges, like a funky mohawk. There was no way anyone else had a shell like this one.
Grinning, I pushed off the sand and swam upwards and towards the dock, where Tatiana was waiting for me. I swallowed down the pressing air in my lungs, needing to hold it for a minute longer.
Something grabbed my ankle, stopping me from moving. The air in my lungs burst from my lips as I exhaled in surprise, the air bubbling upwards. I looked down, frowning when I saw that it was the net, tangled up in my foot and then stuck to the dock. Panic made me crazy. My lungs burned and my fingers fumbled as I struggled with it, taking forever to release myself.
Ahh!Finally! I got if off and rushed towards the sky.
Her face split into a grin when I popped up out of the water. I drug in a big breath, about to die here.
Pretending nothing bad had happened, I climbed up onto the dock and handed her the shell.
“It's beautiful." Her eyes were filled with awe and her finger traced the spiraled edges.
“Shit.” I grabbed it back, just now realizing that a piece was busted off. "It's broken.” My eyebrows furrowed. I should’ve checked it better first. “I’ll get another one.” I tried to throw it back into the water but she grabbed it from me.
"It's perfect." She hid it behind her back, her expression defiant.
"But it's bro--"
"I don't care," she proclaimed. "It might be broken but it’s perfect to me."
The stubborn look on her face told me she wasn't going to let me throw it back and find another one.
“Fine,” I grunted out, exasperated, but let her keep it.
“It’s so beautiful.” She smiled brightly. “Thank you so much!”
“You’re welcome.” I brushed a finger across her cheek softly, then tugged on her pigtail playfully.
“Here,” her hands went to the red ribbon on the bottom of her pigtail, and she pulled it off, then held it towards me.
I looked down at it. “What’s that?”
“Your birthday present. I never got you anything.”
I frowned. “I can’t take your stuff.”