She smiles, closing her eyes as she wishes and blows on the air.
“You never told me, when is your birthday?” She looks hopefully at me.
“I don’t know.” I answer truthfully.
Her eyes widened as I explained “my parents didn’t register me when I was born. Or even cared to pin the date. But, it’s not that big of a deal.” I shrug
She holds up the cake for me. “Make a wish.”
I hesitated, “but, it’s your cake, your birthday.”
She shakes her head “well you don’t know your birthday, we can share the same day. Since you're two years older, now you turn 13.” She beams with happiness and I can’t help but feel honored.
“Thank you.” I lean in.
I wish Elsie would stay with me.
I blow on the air as I open my eyes and look into her light blue ones.
I grab the small gift from my pocket and hold it up for her. The moth is held onto a small white frame, its wings light green and clipped to the frame. Her eyes fill with wonder as she holds the frame in her hands and looks at me “My favorite Insect. Thank you, Clay. I love it!”
I grin proudly “It took me a week to dry and preserve but it will always be with you.”
She hugs it to her chest as I look up at the angel statue then back to Elsie, noticing how the wings of the angel surrounds her. The word immediately speaks in my mind.
“Elsie, I have decided what new word to describe you.”
Her gaze turned back to me, excited.
“What is it?” She inches closer.
I hold her hand, whispering “Mon ange.”
“Happy birthday, Mon ange.”
My angel.
Chapter Ten
The present
Clayton
6 months later…
Running my fingers through her hair, it’s getting longer, but not as fast as Elsie’s.
“Alright, now arms.”
She follows my command as I grab the measuring tape and along it with her arms. The mirror in front of us reflects our silhouettes. Wrinkles start to show a bit as I’m now 30. I have been checking up on my doll once a month. Her health is perfect and she develops fast. Her body is the age of 28. Her brain processes all the info I worked on for the past few months.
“Am I moving too much?” Her voice raspy.
Her voice irritated me, while Elsie’s was soft and innocent, hers is robotic.
I look at her through the mirror as I stand behind her “No, Doll, you’re perfect.”
She smiles proudly as I take the rest of the measurements, writing down any notes.
