1 Prologue: Happy Birthday

It was either the sudden sound of breaking glass or my nightmare that woke me up from sleep. Sweat clung to my shirt, and I looked around, It was either the sudden sound of breaking glass or my nightmare that woke me up from sleep. Sweat clung to my shirt, and I looked around, confused. I dreamed about dark figures surrounding my house, each silently waiting for something. McCallister was there strangely enough, and her mouth was sewn shut, along with everyone else in my house. I knew because the whole dream was filled with me, running to each person and asking what was wrong. They couldn't speak, and they didn't seem to want to.

I looked to my windows, they were pristine and unbroken. So they weren't the source of what woke me fro my dream. I looked to the clock in an attempt to gain more understanding of my surroundings.

11:55

Five more minutes until the rest of my life starts. I looked around the rest of my room, and everything looked untouched, what I could see of it at least. My hand fumbled for the switch of my lamp. Eventually, my fingers found the simple switch, but after a few attempts, I realized it wouldn't work.

I slowly put two and two together and took the shade of the lame. Sure enough, the bulb had exploded, and instead of shattered glass, there was a piece of paper where the lamp should have been.

I reached forward and opened it slowly. The glossy texture over the paper told me that I was holding a photo, but I still couldn't see it. Moving to the windowsill, I saw the faint outline of two people standing on a beach. I recognized myself first, then saw my aunt grabbing my ten-year-old self with a smile on her face.

I should have known she would try to contact me tonight. The memory of us at the beach was still perfectly intact. She left four days after. I turned the photo over and saw something written on the other side.

{Happy birthday Dee. I wish I was there with you- Be strong and remember there is always a place for you with me.

Auntie Dot}

My chest was tight with emotion. I missed Auntie so much, but if I couldn't leave my home, something shifted behind the bedroom door and rolled my eyes. I should have known that they would be here as well. My eyes flashed over to the clock for the second time.

11:58

Alright, I had to hide the photo before they got here. I rushed over to the bookshelf and grabbed a random book. The picture slipped between the pages, and I crawled back in my bed, waiting for them to burst through the door. This was the first step- the only thing that stood in my way was time.

Soon, the door burst open, and a soft light came from the hall, followed by a soft melody.

"Happy birthday to you" My mother was the first to come in, followed by my father and the rest of my family. As they continued the tune, they marched to be bed one by one, smiling down at me.

I jumped up and smiled. "Thank you, guys."

"Make a wish, Dee," My Brother said, wrapping an arm around his mate, Claire.

I smiled and leaned forward to the cake. I only had one wish- the same hope I had every day since my aunt left.

I wish I would never meet my mate.