2 - Birthday

10 years later...

I opened my eyes slowly, still wishing I could sleep some more, I looked around the small room made of wood by my own father, I felt a slight pain in my heart because I still missed him.

I spotted my mother's bed, I was startled when I didn't see my little Elise anywhere in the room and thought she was late. My sister always wakes up after I leave for work, I regretted it, it has been a long time since we interacted as true sisters and confidants.

I got up from the improvised mattress on the floor where I was sleeping, and gave my back a light massage.

I picked up a new, cream-colored dress that my mother had left on her bed; she had probably sewn it for me and separated it for me. I went to the bathroom on the other side of the room, took a relaxing shower to renew my energy and came out. I put on the dress and my trusty leather sandals.

My mother was not in her room either, and there were no sounds echoing through it. Maybe they could be in the kitchen, I went to the bedroom door that led to the kitchen and I could see the two of them moving on the table and laughing softly, probably not to wake me up.

- Good morning my flowers- I said, coming close to my mother and placing a kiss on her cheek.

I grabbed some things from the basket in the center of the table and started to help them.

- Daughter, you're awake, congratulations, dear! - she said, leaving me confused.

- Congratulations, why?

- Mom, did she forget her own birthday? - Elise said reminding me that it was "my day".

- Oh, I remembered, sorry...

- Honey, no need to apologize, you're so young and have so many things to worry about, I'm so proud of you.

- Oh, Mom, no need to thank me, and don't make me cry.

- I want to know if you're going to cut the cake or do I have to do it myself? - Elise said, making me laugh- You can laugh, I'm hungry- She ran her hand over her stomach and made a face.

- I said, cutting the small cake - Mom, you know you didn't have to spend money on me, right?

- Today is your day dear, you deserve the best, too bad I can't give it to you...

We ate between laughs. Everything was perfect, I felt sad for having to go to work right now, in such a relaxed moment with my family, which was rare, but I needed to help this same family.

I said goodbye to them and left, another day at work, I could say that I didn't mind working and that for me it was easy, but it wasn't. Elise has some health problems and we don't even have money to pay for an appointment with a doctor in the village. I wish my father were alive, so I could enjoy my life as a normal teenager.

But I couldn't be so selfish, someone had to work in that house, my mother went through a strong depression when my father left, staying with Elise helped her a lot, so I decided that I should go out and look for a job.

Some friends stopped me in the village and wished me congratulations, I thanked them with a smile and moved on, I couldn't be late.

I arrived at the Palace, where I worked, and the first person I saw was Angie, besides being the housekeeper in the royal kitchen, Angie was an old friend of my mother.

- Why did you come today dear? - asked the housekeeper.

- I have to work, don't I?" I laughed as I put on my apron.

- But it's your birthday," she said angrily.

- It's no problem, it's a pleasure for me to work-I lied, I knew it wasn't.

-So it's okay -She turned her back, then turned again, she seemed to have forgotten something -As you came, stop by the studio later -She winked.

I didn't understand the wink at the end, I nodded and went to wash the many dishes there. This family ate too much, how could they?

After a while of work, I caught myself thinking about my younger age, now I was independent in other eyes, but I feel that I already considered myself an adult long before I was 18.