She sneaked past the living room, to get into the kitchen. After rummaging through the drawer, Lian found the scissors (and a glue stick, which she hadn't thought about using), and sneaked up the stairs back to her room.
Daddy spent most of his time brooding in his favorite chair, in the living room. Since the accident, he had been more depressed and angry. Lian hated seeing him so sad, and she didn't want to risk making him any more angry.
She got back onto her bed, and started cutting the red paper.
Daddy's favorite color was red. At least she believed it was, since he always wore his red suit while at work. She had taken one of his red arrows, and had sprinkled it with some glitter. After she cut out the heart, she stuck the arrow through it.
Lian looked at the heart, and decided something was missing.
As she cut out the lace, memories of her dad helping her with school projects flooded her mind. A lot had changed since those days, when they lived at their old home. Though tempted, she didn't allow herself to cry, and finished cutting the lace.
She missed her old school, her old house, and all the familiar things. Although he wouldn't admit it, she knew her dad missed his friends. They were there for him during and after the accident, but it wasn't the same.
She knew it would never be the same.
Lian coated the edges of the heart with the glue stick, and delicately placed the lace along the edges.
It broke her heart to see daddy the way he was now. She had never seen him cry, not after all the trouble he had with mom, not after all the fights he had, not during the move, never. After he regained consciousness, he cried.
When she finished, she took a look at the heart, and decided it was finished.
"I hope this works..." Lian said, as she walked out of her room and down the stairs.
She slowly approached the living room, and sure enough daddy was in his chair.
"Daddy..."
"Yes?" Roy said, as he turned to face her.
"Happy Valentine's Day." Lian said, as she handed him the heart.
Roy held the heart, looked it over, and smiled at Lian.
"Looks like I've got the best valentine ever..." Roy said, as he picked her up and hugged her.
Lian giggled. Daddy was smiling again; that was greatest gift of all.