For years, Clem’s grandmother gifted her the same peculiar birthday present: a tiny plastic sheep with a bell, always a different color but still just another sheep. Each year, Clem was left scratching her head, wondering why. She loved her grandmother deeply, but even she couldn’t quite grasp the significance of these little plastic figurines.

When she’d look at them lined up on her shelf, Clem would often chuckle, thinking, “Does Grandma even remember she gave me this last year?”As her grandmother aged, her hair turned snowy white, her hands a bit shaky, and her memory became hazy. Yet, without fail, each birthday brought another sheep. “Happy Birthday, Clem,” she’d say, her soft voice laced with pride as Clem opened the gift. The ritual became an endearing mystery Clem accepted with a smile, though she couldn’t help but wonder.

Then, things changed. On Clem’s 19th birthday, Grandma wasn’t there. She’d fallen ill a few months prior, and Clem knew in her heart she might not have many more birthdays with her. Not long after, her grandmother passed away, leaving Clem devastated. She missed her terribly—her voice, her laughter, and yes, even those mysterious sheep.

A year later, Clem’s 20th birthday arrived, though the celebration felt incomplete without her beloved grandmother. Midway through the gathering, her mother quietly handed Clem a small box. “It’s from Grandma. She gave it to me before she passed,” her mother explained with a soft smile.