Its small but you cannot miss it because it adorns the center of the silver heart pendant dangling down my neck through a delicate silver chain. It was the "next best thing", the second of the "next best things" he gave me for my birthday this year. The second thing might be the next best but this little blue stone, this sparkling piece right here, is the best that he could have given me for this birthday.

It was the year we had met that he first showed me what he'd give me for my birthday. It was a 25 Karat (I think. I'm not too good with gold and jewellery stuff) heart pendant with a gold chain around it. That is when I fell in love with heart pendants and even though it was impossible to get it at that particular time. It wasn't the metal or the stone. It was just the idea that "the" guy had been so thoughtful to actually think of giving me one without me making a fuss about it. I did like them before but after that I was absolutely determined to get one from him.

On my 21st birthday he gave me a cute tiny one with a gold chain and a big zircone (not sure about the spelling) heart in between with little sparkly stones around it. That was awesome and I loved it until I lost it thanks to the lose lock.

So, this year he gave me one again even though he didn't remember that I'd lost the last one.So now it hangs, covering the back and front of my neckline, silver and blue, royal yet simple, just like me, very unlike our complicated love, and a symbol of his care and adoration.

No man is perfect but as long as he remembers that beneath the neck that the pendants adorn is a heart that beats for him and longs for his undivided love; and, he remembers to show(er) it too.