15 Mother's Birthday

{Gianna's pov}

*Jingle*

"Oh, you changed the doorbell?" Brinley voice echoed in the empty shop as I was sweeping the floor.

"Yes, I changed the doorbell, is it nice?" I asked her and smiled.

"Yes!! It has a sweet and enthusiastic sound." Brinley commented as she placed something on the coffee table with a thud.

"What did you bring?" Brinley suddenly hugged me and said, "Oh I brought some snacks and beverages on my way here, anyways thank you for letting me stay at your place!! I have many friends, but I can say with confidence that you and Amelia are the best friends I've ever met."

"Oh, stop it…you're good at flattering." I giggled as I spoke to her.

"So...were you cleaning?" Brinley asked me, to which I nodded. "Can I help you?" She asked me, but I shook my head and responded, "I'm about to finish, you can make yourself a cup of coffee while I pack up everything and close for the day."

*yaawwwnnn*

"Charlie? Are you tired or just feeling sleepy?" I asked Charlie as I heard him yawning.

"Aooww aow aowww oww" Charlie made sounds as he trudged towards my foot and rubbed my leg with his soft silky fur. I giggled and said, "Alright, I get it. You want to go home, I know, just wait for a bit, let me finish." I said as I rubbed his fur and patted his head.

'He must be tired...it was a long and tiring day. There were quite a lot of customers today, I also feel tired myself. I should tell Amelia to cook by herself today...but what if she's also tired? Ah, I'll make the dinner myself, it's not a big deal...' I was thinking when someone tapped on my shoulder, bringing me back from the daze.

"What're you thinking so deeply about, Gianna?" Brinley asked, which I just shrugged and responded, "Nothing special, just thinking about what to make for dinner."

"Ohh...let Amelia come, we'll decide together, what do you say?" Brinley suggested, and I nodded in approval.

~An hour later~

"I'm home!" Amelia shouted as she slammed the front door and burst inside the house.

"Amelia!! Behave yourself!" I scolded as soon as I heard Amelia banging the door open.

"Oops I'm sorry." Amelia gave a vague apology and went to take a quick shower.

"She's quite energetic." Brinley commented to which I chuckled, "She behaves like a small spoiled kid, though I scold her for her antics... I feel relieved and happy for her, that she's enjoying her life." I smiled, remembering our childhood days when we played together, when I still had my eyesight and enjoyed every moment of my life.

Brinley silently caught hold of my hands and tightened her grip as if giving me strength and support. I don't know if she feels my pain, but I am thankful and very grateful to receive this support from her.

Amelia soon came after getting refreshed, and we decided to make ramen, as Brinley already had brought many snacks and beverages.

I gave Charlie his food, which he ate just in a few minutes and went to sleep.

The rest three of us enjoyed till late at night gossiping and eating. We all drifted to sleep as we got tired of staying up too late.

I thought we might sleep peacefully as we enjoyed our day, but I was wrong.

"Gianna...my sweet child, come here… Mamma misses you...come here, my child." I whimpered as I heard my mother's smooth, soft and whispering voice.

"My child, you've done a wonderful job...in taking care of your little sister... Amelia is a good and spoiled child...she deserves to be loved by you and others...but you broke your promise, sweetheart..." Mother's whispering voice made me shiver, did I recover my eyesight? I was not able to open my mouth and speak, I want to hug and speak to you mother!! I shuffled as I tried going near my mother, but the distance between us increased even more.

But suddenly with a whoosh, mother came near my ear and whispered, "Stay...away from Black Panthers... I love you, my sweet child..." With that mother vanished in thin air, I was about to scream and call her out when I felt someone pulling my arm. I opened my closed eyes and panted. I was still not able to see anything, it was a dream, but I was able to see mother clearly.

"Are you okay?" I heard Amelia's worried voice. I nodded without speaking any word and wetted my lips with tongue.

"You were having a nightmare again, weren't you? You were about to scream, but I pulled you out of the bed in fear, Brinley might wake up." Amelia said and rubbed my back gently, which soothed my nerves. I took deep breaths and calmed myself before drinking a whole glass of water.

"It was not a nightmare... mother... I saw mother in my dream." I said, and I heard Amelia gasping in surprise.

"It's 3:49am, today is mother's birthday...is it a coincidence that you saw her in your dreams?" Amelia said, to which I shrugged, not knowing if it was a coincidence or not...

"I don't know...she whispered some things which I remember vaguely. I think she appreciated you and me, but she also..." I trailed off as I remembered what she said next...she said I broke the promise which I made to her, and she again warned me to stay away from Black Panthers...who are Black Panthers? Is it a thing? Person? Place? Animal? I don't know... I can't guess anymore, my head hurts when I start thinking about these things. I sighed and told Amelia to go back to sleep and told her I will also follow her to sleep in a while. I sat in a daze thinking again and again what mother said in my dreams. I realized my cheeks were wet with tears. I didn't notice when I started crying. I wiped my tears, washed my face and drank another glass of water and went back to sleep.

~Next morning~

Amelia woke up earlier than me and Brinley, she went to do her morning routine and made light breakfast. She woke me and Brinley up. Brinley pouted and woke up with a grumpy expression, apparently she wanted to sleep more...but Amelia and I had plans today, so we couldn't let Brinley stay any longer.

"Hey today is holiday for you right?" Brinley asked Amelia.

"Yeah, why?" Amelia said while spreading peanut butter on her toast.

"Umm, how about you close your shop today, Gianna? All three of us can go for another shopping spree today!!" Brinley said enthusiastically, but I slightly got anxious at her suggestion.

"No need. You already bought us and yourself quite a lot of stuff at our previous 'shopping spray', and it's a headache for me to adjust that much of stuff in my cupboard." Amelia said with a big frown on her face.

"It's 'spree' not 'spray' and I can just buy a big wardrobe for you both where all the stuff can fit in." Brinley suggested in a bright, happy tone.

"Your 'big microbe' won't fit inside our home, so forget about it." Amelia said and sighed. Brinley pouted her lips in disappointment.

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(A/N: Gianna can't see these reactions and expressions as she's blind in the story, but I am adding expressions like pouting, frowning, etc. to explain how other characters are reacting and how they felt at that point/scene, please enjoy the story ahead.)

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"It's 'wardrobe' not 'microbe'! Aha!!…then how about buying an apartment!?" Brinley suggested and snapped her finger. I choked on my food and started coughing at her suggestion, even Amelia dropped her butter knife in shock. I drank water slowly to relax my throat and sighed. It seems like I should convince her, Amelia failed to convince her.

"Brinley... I don't feel like going anywhere today, I want to be alone today..." I said and sighed, followed by silence.

"Umm...okay…maybe next time? I had a holiday today and I get very bored as my mother spends the whole day sticking to me for shopping, gossiping and giving me kitchen tutorials." Brinley laid an extravagant sigh, showing her holiday pains.

Amelia and I gave her a twitching smile because if we were in her place...we would have stuck with our mother the whole day and every day.

The ones who yearn for mother's love struggle with holding back, and the ones who have their mother's love doesn't cherish it.

"I think you should spend some time with your mother, she'll feel happy." Amelia said and stood up to clean the dishes. I nodded in approval, and I heard Brinley sigh.

"Okay, I'll spend the whole day with her, but promise me! Next weekend! Shopping spree and a night stay at my home!" Brinley said, and opened the front door after collecting her bag.

"Hey! Not your house!" Amelia shouted, but Brinley just clicked her tongue and shouted back, "No excuses! Bye!" And she vanished into thin air. I sighed.

"Do I have to go to her house too?" I asked Amelia.

"Obviously, what will I do there alone? If you don't go, then I also won't." Amelia said, making me sigh again.

"Now then, Ms. Sigh, finish your breakfast fast so that I can clean the table, and we could go to see mother and wish her." Amelia said, and I nodded, gulping down my breakfast.

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A/N: I apologize for going in a sudden hiatus, I know my apology words cannot compensate the readers... but I am sincere about my apology.

Apparently I got free time after a long time of busy schedule...so I uploaded a total of three chapters.

The uploads will be very slow...like once in two-three week or once in a month, but I will try to upload 3-4 chapters every time I upload. I know it'll be hard for readers to wait that long...but I'm also quite in a condition where I am not able to find free time to spend on myself :(

Anyways, please do share your thoughts about this work.

Thank you for cooperation and support!

Fighting! ;)