World in the Mirror

1st person POV

"Are you awake, sweetie?" my mom said.

"Yes, Mom! I'm just packing my stuff!"

"Remember to grab your breakfast before you go!"

"Sure Mom."

A while later, I left home with my school bag after grabbing my sandwich on the dining table.

Today was a sunny day. I was so excited that I walked like I got a spring in my shoes. It was because today was my 15th birthday. Couldn't wait to see what my friends and family got me.

I arrived at school as usual. I greeted the teachers standing in the school gate and walked into the school campus.

I passed by many students and they were all talking with each other and laughing at different things. After going up a lot of stairs, I reached my classroom. Some boys were already in the classroom sitting on tables or leaning on the wall.

I went to my own seat and sat down. Right when I decided to get my favorite novel out, a boy knocked on my table.

I looked up and saw Nick standing in front of me.

'What's he doing here?' I thought to myself.

"Happy-"

'Is he going to say happy birthday to me?!'

"Moon Day! Today is the day when Neil Armstrong became the first man to step down onto the cratered surface of the moon!"

"Yeah yeah yeah..." I rolled my eyes after hearing what he had said.

"Rude." I whispered to myself before I settled down and got my novel out.

Shortly, most of the classmates were all in the classroom chatting and laughing while I was concentrating on my favorite novel.

"Hey girl!" a familiar voice reached my ears and I looked up from my book. It was Jenny.

"Have you done your mathematics homework, Cheryl?" Jenny asked, looking a bit anxious.

"Uhh... Yes?" I replied.

"Thank God!! Could I borrow it for a second please?" Jenny begged me for my homework.

I reluctantly took it out from my school bag and Jenny took it out of my hand immediately.

"Thanks girl, love you." Jenny walked away with my homework after blowing a kiss to me.

'Gosh! Did everyone seriously forget my birthday?' I thought to myself, hoping that it was not true.

Miss Alexander, the class teacher, came in the classroom and all the classmates returned to their own seats.

She said, "okay class, today I'm going to..."

I sunk into my own imagination of how my birthday should be like : receiving gifts, eating the best birthday cake, singing songs and partying.

'It will the best birthday ever!' I thought to myself.

"Cheryl? Are you even listening?" Miss Alexander called my name and stopped me from thinking about my perfect birthday.

"Uh... yes?"

"Then what's the answer to this question?" Miss Alexander asked, looking really angry.

I looked at the blackboard full with words and complicated symbols.

"Uh... I... I don't know..." I lowered my head and strutted.

"Why are you not paying attention in class? Do you want to go to detention class?"

"No! Please don't!"

"See me after school. Sit down." Miss Alexander looked extremely cross, she was not like that before. I still sat down as she told me to. I thought my birthday would make me lucky and happy but in fact, I needed to see Miss Alexander and nobody wished me a happy birthday.

After the all the lessons, school was finally over. I packed my school bag and was ready to leave the classroom to see Miss Alexander.

I reached the teacher's staff room and Miss Alexander was waiting for me outside.

"Cheryl, you are really absent-minded today. Please write a reflection letter and hand it to me on Monday or I'll be calling your parents."

She handed me a piece of paper and told me to leave.

I signed with resentment and left school after all the misery.

I arrived home and my mom was looking worried. She was running all over the house with a phone in her hand.

" Okay. I'll be there as soon as I can!" she said before she hung up. She did not notice that I was home as she was busy finding something.

"What's happening Mom?" I asked.

"Sweetie, you're back! I have a really really bad news... Your grandma had a really serious accident. She fell down the stairs and got hit in the head. She is in emergency now."

"What?!" I was in shock.

"I know it's your birthday today but I really got to visit your grandma now. Your dad and I will be home soon."

"But Mom!"

"I gotta go now!" my mom said and petted me on my head gently. Shortly, she left home and I was in my house alone.

"Why on my birthday... Why?" I said in despair. I felt like I was the most unlucky person in the world. I dropped on the floor hopelessly. Teardrops filled my eyes and my heart was tearing apart. I could do nothing but blame myself for being so miserable.

Time flew as I lay on my bed dazing. I received a notification from my phone so I took a look at my phone.

"Happy Birthday Cheryl. Let's take a look at the old photos. Even Facebook remembers my birthday." I put my phone away and stared at my alarm clock after a sign.

"It's already 11p.m. Nobody has wished me a happy birthday. Even my parents haven't back home."

I continued, "why am I still waiting? They're not going to be back in time."

I went to take a shower to get away from the cruel reality. During my shower, I could only think about how my birthday should be like.

After having a 30 minutes shower, I went back to my bed and decided to go to sleep. Suddenly, my phone rang. It was Mom calling. I answered the phone immediately.

"Sweetie?"

"Yes Mom?"

"Your dad and I have to stay overnight in the hospital. We're really sorry."

'Oh my gosh! Why can't you tell me later? You don't have to hurt me like that!' Although I was thinking about that, I replied to my Mom "that's fine..." instead.

"One more thing sweetie. Actually, I got you a cake. I put it in the refrigerator. You can eat it now. I'll buy a new one for you tomorrow. Goodnight. Bye!"

"Bye..." I hung up afterwards. I went to the kitchen to get my birthday cake. I looked at my phone and saw the time now was 23 : 50.

"Wow... Why not celebrate the end of my birthday instead?" I said, thinking that it was 10 minutes away from the end of my birthday.

I took the cake out of the refrigerator and put it on the dining table.

"Gosh! I look extremely lonely right now. Hmm..." I browsed around and thought of a good idea to make my birthday better. I rushed to my room and brought my teddy bear, my favorite novel and my mirror back.

I then put them on my table surrounding my cake. I looked at my phone and it was just 10 seconds away from the end of my birthday.

"10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1! Happy birthday to me!"

Right when I closed my eyes to make a wish, something happened...