I didn’t expect her to put it on straight away

I thought she’d open the box, smile, and set it down. She didn’t.

She held it up, watched it change in her hands… and put it on there and then.

She’s worn it every day since.

I didn’t expect her to start messaging me because of it

A few days later, she sent me a photo. Clover side up. No words.

I wasn’t quite sure what it meant, so I sent back a clover emoji.

The next morning she sent hearts. I replied: "I'm here." We’ve done that most mornings since.

I’ve heard from her more in the past few weeks than I had in years. If you want to see the necklace, you can click here to have a look.

I didn’t expect it to become our way of talking

We’ve never been ones for long emotional conversations. But now we don’t really need them.

Some days she sends “clover.” Some days “hearts.” I seem to know what she means. She doesn’t have to explain. I don’t have to ask.

I didn’t expect it to affect me like it did

She sent me a voice note one afternoon. Walking between classes.

“I flipped it to clover before my exam. I think it helped.”

I was sitting in the car at the time. I stayed there a bit longer than I needed to.

I didn’t expect her friends to notice

One of her friends asked where she got it. She said: “My grandma gave it to me.” I’m not quite sure why that stayed with me.

`I think it’s because for a while I’d felt… a bit on the outside of her world.

Turns out I wasn’t. I just hadn’t given her something to keep close.

I didn’t expect her to wear it when it mattered

She messaged me before an interview: "Clover today." She never told me she’d been doing that.

Before exams. Before presentations. On days she didn’t want to talk about.

I didn’t expect the quiet to feel different

I used to notice the quiet.

Sunday mornings. The house still. The phone not ringing.

I don’t notice it the same way now. I’m usually waiting to see which side she sends.

I didn’t expect all my granddaughters to join in

I bought three. One for each of them. I thought one might like it. All three wear them. All three message me most mornings.

I didn’t expect it to last

I thought it might last a few weeks. Then end up in a drawer like everything else.

It’s been months.

They’ve worn it through school, holidays, good days, difficult ones…

It still looks exactly the same.

I didn’t expect to realise this

For years, I told myself I had time. Another birthday. Another Christmas. Another chance.

I didn’t notice how many ordinary days I was letting pass.

And how easily I could have let a few more go by thinking there would always be another moment.

If you’re thinking about what to give her. It doesn’t need to be anything expensive. Just something she’ll actually keep. Something she’ll reach for without thinking.

You can see the necklace here at www.hello-arlo-gb.com

I’m just glad I didn’t leave it any longer