It was a gift, from my parents, although it was Mom who had given it to me on graduation night, after the party at the Italian restaurant with Melanie's family, where they told us about the tour.
"What is this?" I had asked. We were sitting at the kitchen table, winding down from the day. "You already gave me a graduation present."
She smiled. I bought you another.
I opened the case, saw the watch, fingered the heavy gold links. Read the engraving.
"It's too much." And went. In every sense.
"Time doesn't stop for anyone," Mom had said, smiling a little sadly. "You deserve a good watch to keep up with you." He then placed the watch on my wrist, showed me how he had installed an additional security clasp, and pointed out that it was also waterproof. “It will never fall off. So you can t
