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Her eyes light up when she sees the dress I’m wearing. It was her graduation dress and thankfully after a few alterations, I’m able to wear it as well.

“Oh my,” she whispers when her hands cup her cheeks as her eyes glisten with tears. “You look absolutely beautiful, Moondrop.”

Dad clears his throat as he comes into the room. “Your mother and I have a gift for you.” He walks over with a velvet black box in his hands.

My fingers tremble as I open the box. Inside are two beautiful bracelets with ring chains. One with the Celtic moon and the other with the Celtic star. Their pearlescent hue almost gives them a moonlight appearance.

I suck in a gasp, my hand covers my mouth as the tears start to fall. “You guys, they are gorgeous.”

Mom reaches over, grabbing the box from me before pulling out the moon bracelet and slipping it onto my wrist, hooking the ring to my middle finger. She does the same to the other wrist with the star bracelet.

She cups my cheek in her hand, her own eyes damp with tears. “We are so proud of you, Moondrop. It’s a big accomplishment to graduate from high school. We look forward to seeing what you will do with your adult years.”

Her arms wrap around me as we hug each other. Dad comes over, holding back his own tears, as he wraps his arms around both of us. “My two beautiful girls. I’m proud to say that I am in the room with two of the most amazing women I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing.”

I bask in their love for a few seconds before Mom pulls back, wiping the tears from her eyes. “Okay, okay. We can’t ruin our makeup before we even make it to the graduation. Plus, if we want a good spot, we will need to leave shortly.”

We all chuckle before wiping our own eyes. Dad wraps his arm around my shoulders as I slide mine across his lower back, leaning my head on his shoulder as we walk down the hallway to the front of the cabin.

Mom gasps when she swings the front door open, blocking whatever it is from our sight. Dad calls out to her, “What is it?”

She bends down and picks something up before turning around to face us. In her arms is the largest bouquet of Silvery Lupines I’ve ever seen in my life. Wrapped in brown paper and tied with twine, there is a card tucked into the flowers.

Mom rushes over to me. “These have to be for you, but who’s it from?”

I shrug my shoulders, taking the envelope from her. The thick cardstock of the envelope bulges toward the bottom as if a card isn’t the only thing in here. A perfect circle imprinted on the inside.

Flipping the tab back, a simple, textured, white card sits inside with a golden chain in front of it. My fingers squeeze the edge of the envelope as I turn it over into my waiting palm. Out slides a long golden chain with a pendant dangling from it. Setting theenvelope down on the counter, I flip the pendent over. It’s a depiction of Selene, the Moon Goddess. She’s holding the sliver of the moon while the stars twinkle behind her. My mouth hangs open as I set it down next to the envelope before picking it back up.

Pulling the card out, black ink scratched across the surface it says:

S,

May today be everything you’ve hoped and dreamed it would be. Hopefully the Goddess you are named after will watch over you as you walk into the next phase of your life. Congratulations on your achievement.

The one who always watches

Mom and Dad lean over my shoulders reading the note. “The one who watches,” Mom whispers slowly, almost questioning the words as she reads them.

“Huh.” Dad steps back, confusion written all over his face. “What does that mean? Someone’s been watching you?”

My cheeks burn with embarrassment. I’ve not told anyone besides Odes, and even then I just recently did so. Partly because half the time I thought I was imagining it, and the other times I didn’t think it was a big deal. All his gifts have been harmless and thoughtful.

“It’s nothing really. Someone’s been leaving me really thoughtful gifts on the front porch. I think I have a secret admirer or something.”

Mom pulls my shoulder back, spinning me around to face her. The storm cloud of anger that rarely appears is already brewing in her eyes. “What do you mean by ‘gifts’? This has happened multiple times and you didn’t think to mention it?” She is practically growling the last words.

Dad walks over pulling Mom into the crook of his arm, his hand running slowly up and down her back. She blows out abreath, closing her eyes. He leans into her. “I think it’s safe to say that someone is in love with our daughter, and he’s clearly a very thoughtful person. Why don’t we have this talk later though, hmm? We have a graduation to attend.”

“Fine.” She sighs before cutting her eyes at me. “Put those beautiful flowers in water before we go. Can’t have them wilting while we are gone.”

With a simple nod, I turn just as a tentative smile cracks across my face. Leave it to Dad to calm her down and for her to worry about them wilting. You can’t fault the herbalist for wanting to care for flowers.

The football stadium is packed with waiting families and friends as we all sit in our caps and gowns. The warm June evening is still stifling, especially with our layers of clothing on. We all are fanning ourselves with our paper programs, wishing we could be done already.

The attendants signal for our row to stand up. We rise and file out to the steps of the stage. Our principal calls each name slowly, allowing every person a chance to shake her hand, grab the diploma, and snap a photo with her before calling the next name.

“Selene Calloway.”