1 Birthday

Its 3 in the morning, she is sitting on her study desk, drawing a monster eating a butterfly, who is crying for mercy. The room is filled with the darkness, only mere light of lamp on the desk makes her drawing visible to her.

"Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday Dear liza, Happy Birthday to you."

"Oh Dad, I love you."

"You remembered my birthday. Didn't you sleep yet. It's midnight. Aren't you going at work early in the morning."

"Oh my princess, you turned 16 today. Your birthday is way more important than my work. Dad can sleep later. Well, why aren't 'you' asleep yet? You were waiting for me. You naughty gal."

He starts to tickle her.

"Haha haha, you knew already."

"Guess what Dad got you?"

"Oh new colour pallet, OMG new drawing kit. Dad I love you. Thank you, Thank you sooooo much."

Those words were ringing in her head. With each sound of 'Happy Birthday', she scratched the drawing sheet with pen more fiercely. The room was filled with silence, only sound audible was the scratching of pen. Suddenly the scary sound was torn apart by the ring of alarm. The distressed night has finally turned into the Dark Morning. It's 6 A.M. Time for liza to get ready for college.

There's a knock on the door.

"Wake up liza, It's six in the morning. Get ready and come downstairs for breakfast."

"hmm"

*At the breakfast table*

"Good Morning Liza"

"Morning Jazzy"

"Mom, aren't you forgetting something?"

"I guess not, Why?"

"I think you need to stress more on your brain"

Marry signals jazzy to be quite, she remembers liza's birthday but she wants to give her surprise birthday party.

"I mean to say, you forgot, I have a very important football match today. Wish me luck and pray for me." Jazzy came up with the quickest lie possible. He realized his mother must have some good plans for his younger sister.

"Oh, I see, I totally forgot about it"

She stood up from table, and simply started marching out of the house.

"Bye honey, Mama love you"

"bye." Lisa just mumbled in her mouth and went out of the house.

Same road, same people, but no one knows her. She comes to the same bus stand, at same time daily from years but talks to none. If someone meets her, she act like she never saw them the next day, cause that's what exactly happens. She forgets things easily. She can remember you in long run but will have no idea who you are if you met her only for second time. It was not always like this. After the death of her father she didn't care much to remember any thing.

With her head down and stare to the ground, she enters her college, hoping no one notices her. To the whole college she was very strange . Almost no one else then Jenny ever talked to her. Whenever someone tried to approach her, she would just stare, listen, nod and leave quietly. Just like everyday else, she just kept on walking and entered her class. First thing she looked for was Jenny. Jenny waved her hand, signaling Liza to walk her way. Showing no emotion and keeping her straight face, she walked to the seat where Jenny was sitting.

"How are you?"

"Fine."

"Ahh this girl, she never ask me how I am." Jenny said making pouty puppy face. "Never Mind. Okay close your eyes."

"why?"

"Just close"

Liza stared at jenny for second and then finally closed her eyes.

"Now put your hand forward" with that Jenny put a small box on Liza's palm.

"What's this?"

"open your eyes."

Liza opened her eyes and saw one small box wrapped in golden gift wrap.

"Happy Birthday My dear friend"

"You remembered my birthday." A slight smile appeared on her face.

"Of course I did, why would I forget that?" Jenny saw that smile on her face. For a moment they both kept on looking in each others eyes. That slight smile meant a lot to Jenny. After all, she rarely smiled after her father's death. "Now don't make me wait, open the box already."

"What's this?" Liza said while opening the box. Her smile widened when she saw a bracelet with her and Jenny's name on it. It read 'Liz & Jen. Born for each other, live to be together'. Liza's eyes got teary but she didn't let emotions take over her. After all, she was master at hiding her feelings. She couldn't say something, to show her gratitude, instead she just hugged Jenny as tight as she could.

The rest of the day went as it goes usually. They both took their classes. Liza kept sitting quietly, while Jenny participated in the class. The day ended and it was time for them to go to their homes.

"Okay Bye babes. See you tomorrow. Oh and Happy Birthday once again." Jenny left with that, smiling.

Liza just nodded and waved at departing Jenny. She kept on waving until she was out of the sight. Jenny's house is near college so she just walks to home. While Liza comes to college after 2 hour journey on bus. She went again to the bus stop. Bus came, she sat on the same window seat. While looking outside, her eyes finally saw what she was waiting for, her high school. She crosses her high school every time on her way back to home.

"Thanks Dad, you're here. Otherwise I'll have to wait for 2 hours until I reach home. You make my life easier.*smiles*.

(In car)

"Dad"

"hmm"

"I wonder, when I go to college, will you still pick and drop me up or leave me on my own telling me that I grew up?*Laughs*

"I'll leave you on your own."*Laughs*

"Dad!!"*Makes a puppy face*

"I'll never leave your side. Do you think, I'll let my baby suffer. No dad will never do that. Whenever and wherever you want to go, just call your dad. I'll always be there.

'Next station...' A voice hit her in ears, hindering the train of thoughts and throwing her back to reality. The unconscious smile that appeared on her face, suddenly shattered into a straight face once again.

Rain pouring down on Liza as she walks toward her home. Everyone else was looking for a spot to escape from being wet but Liza kept walking as if she feels no rain on her.

"Don't go in their you'll get wet Liza."

"I will go. See how lovely the rain feels on skin. Com'n dad have fun."

"Aish, this girl. You gonna get sick."

"I won't."

A tear rolled down Liza's eyes hiding with the rain drops. She kept walking, unbothered with her surrounding.

"You will get sick honey. Get under some shelter."

She turned around shocked. She felt as if his dad whispered in her ears. Standing still, she looked around. She wished what she thought was true. *Thunderclap* With this she came back to her senses. Her home was not so far from here, so she started to run to her home.

Liza's P.O.V

I rang the doorbell, no one answered. I rang once more, still no one opened the door. I knocked the door but as soon as I knocked, it opened. Was it open already? I entered in.

End of Liza's P.O.V

As she opened the door the house filled with the loud screams of people chanting "Happy Birthday". With the sudden noise Liza flinched with fear. Her heart started to pound. She started breathing heavily. But as soon as her mother hugged her she calmed down.

"Happy Birthday Honey. I am sorry we scared you. Look who came to meet you"

Liza's P.O.V

I saw familiar faces around me. My uncles and aunts, whom I haven't seen in years, all showed up. The whole house filled with people wishing me. I looked around the whole house. People cheering me. I was still standing at the doorpost, all wet.

MOM: "Oh Honey. You are all wet. Oh My Lord. You will get sick. First go and change. Come with me."

Mom took my hand. We started to walk past everyone straight to my room. Everyone was wishing me as we kept on going. I said nothing and just kept smiling. Seeing so many people around me made me feel uncomfortable. I just wanted to go in my room and lock myself in silence. We finally came to my room. Mom told me to go and take shower while she finds something for me to wear. I went in to take shower.

"Happy Birthday To you. Happy to You. Happy Birthday dear Liza. Happy Birthday to You" All my friends and relatives shouted as soon I opened the door.

"Happy Birthday Liz" Dad said from behind.

"Oh My God. Dad what's this, you arranged all this.". The whole house was covered in balloons and lighting, decorated all around. In the middle of the house was a decorated table. I went in smiled at everyone.

"Dad! Yesterday's gift was not enough? You thought of all this too"

"That's nothing. I have more coming for my baby."

"Really? What's that. Tell me."

"Wait honey. Let's go inside and greet others first. Look your all cousins are there."

Dad put me in suspense. He didn't tell me what he meant by that 'more coming'. When I blew the candles, dad put a necklace in my neck. I still have that on my neck to this day. I will keep it on my neck forever.

End of Liza's P.O.V

Liza kept on looking at her reflection in the mirror. Her stare was on the necklace all the time. Suddenly she felt like something passed from behind. She turned around in fear. Nothing there. It was just her all alone.

"Liza." Her mom called her from outside. "Dear, are you okay? You're taking so long."

"Nothing Mom... I'm coming in minute."

Liza's P.O.V

I was still wondering what I saw behind in the mirror. Mom was waiting outside. I saw one dress on my bed. I was looking at it with no emotion. Suddenly the door knocked.

"Honey, Can I come inside?" Mom was on the door.

"Yes"

MOM: Did you see this dress? Wear it today. It will sure look good on you. Look your favorite color White. Isn't this nice?

I saw the dress. It was lovely. Mom brought it with so much love. I looked at mom and then at dress. I had no interest in the dress but I didn't want to hurt her.

"It's nice dress. Thank you mom." I said it with a fake smile. Mom noticed it.

MOM: "Liza. Look at me. I know it is hard to get over something. And if that something is someone who meant a lot to you, it's the hardest but you just can't spend your whole life mourning. You lost your dad, he meant everything to you but do you think he will be in peace looking at you sad like this. You lost your dad whom you knew from 16 years. I lost a friend, my love, who was with me from my childhood. I loved him more than I can express. But do you see me crying all the time? No, you don't. Why? Does that mean I don't love him? I don't care about his death? NO. I am living a happy life cause I loved him. Cause I know, if he saw me hurting myself he will get hurt. Do you think he is not with us? He is. Ask your heart. Deep down your father still stays with you. When we laugh, he laugh with us in our memories. When you smile, he smiles in the sky. And when you cry, he cries in heaven. He sure does. I am not saying forget him. No, it can never happen. We can never forget him. All I am saying is forget that he is not with you anymore. His absence doesn't make you sad, feeling his absence is the real pain. You lost him, but we are still here. Your past should only stay in your memories, it should not get in your present. You are living in your memories only. Leave them in your head for once. This is not the time to stay in your old memories. It's the time to create new ones. You are sad, this is not the problem; you are not realizing it, is the problem. If you want to cry, go ahead cry as much as you can but once you are done, don't cry for that again. I know, It is easy to say and hard to do, but we did it too. I hope you will try."

I looked at her. I wanted to cry but I didn't. I wanted to say something but my chest felt too heavy to do so. All her words were true but I still didn't want to believe them. She said I should forget the past, I tried and still trying, but I can't. Her eyes were on me. She went quite. We looked at each other. Her eyes teary with emotions, sparkling with affection. But I was still staring with no emotions on my face. Why my heart can feel the pain but my body can't express. I feel like I am paralyzed. My body is going numb like my expressions. All these emotions melted with Mom's hug. There was so much relief in here, in her arms. Her scent felt like medicine for my brain, it calmed me. I don't want to let go. I wish this moment can last forever. I didn't wanted to but she broke the hug.

MOM: "I got so much emotional I didn't realize everyone is waiting downstairs." She said while wiping her tears, hiding her face from me. As if I didn't saw her crying.

"Mom" I took her hands in mine. "Look, I am fine. Don't worry, okay. I know dad can never come back and I need to accept this. I am accepting. It's just that I am taking longer." I don't know why but I said it. I just don't want her to worry. "You will see a healthier me soon." With this I just hugged her once more.

End of Liza's P.O.V

MOM's P.O.V

I saw a positive smile on her face after years. Her voice never felt this calm from days. I wish the old Liza is coming back soon. My Liza, who smiles brighter than the stars, who's laughter rings like music in the air, who used to talk till her mouth hurts, I wish my baby come back.

End of MOM's P.O.V

The moment was emotional but soon they came back to reality. Mary left the room. Liza wore the dress and came downstairs.