HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME

KATERINA'S POV

"I think I want to move out Mama. I can't do this with you anymore."

I speak sadly to my mother who is half-drunk on the couch again, as usual. Definitely nothing new. That's all she ever is these days. Drunk. I don't know who my mother is anymore. Ever since Papa died, she has thrown the rest of her life away. Her life has been reduced to nothing but one night stands and alcohol.

She doesn't even go to work anymore. Well, it's not like she has to. Papa was rich and the money he saved up will be enough to sustain Mama and I for lifetimes. Sometimes I wonder what would have become of us if Papa wasn't rich. There is a whole world out there to explore. I just wish she would choose to live the rest of her days happily. That's what Papa would have wanted for her, not this.

"Mama, I said…"

"I heard you the first time Katerina." She replies sluggishly. "You are not a child anymore, you don't need to ask for permission to leave."

"I was not asking for permission. I was just informing you of it. I've been thinking about it for exactly two weeks now and I've been packing too in case I decided to push through with it. I even made some calls and had an apartment reserved for me. I'll be moving to Castings. It's only a 9hour drive from here so I can visit you whenever and you can visit me whenever too."

It's not like she cares about all the details I'm giving her right now but I explain anyways.

"I leave tomorrow. I'll text you the address of my apartment when I get there, in case you ever want to stop by."

Mama makes a weird noise and shifts in her seat, probably trying to find her balance before she speaks since she's obviously drunk. She raises her head and gives me an unconcerned and nonchalant look. Not to worry though, I did not expect her to care anyways.

"Katerina, spare me the details. If you want to move on with your life, you're free to do so. The last thing I'll do is hold you back from living your life because of me. I don't need you here. I'm a big girl and if I could survive your dad dying, then I'll survive you living 9hours away."

I hear the words coming from her mouth and despite the fact that I expected this from her, it still hurts to hear it. I sigh and get up from my seat not wanting to make this joke of a conversation any longer.

I'll be driving for a long while tomorrow and I need to rest before it's morning as I'll be leaving very early. Four in the morning to be precise. Yep, I like travelling super early, that way I can arrive early as well.

As I'm making my way up the stairs my mom says one last thing.

"Don't bother saying goodbye tomorrow Katerina. I can't handle another one of those."

When I reach my room, I suddenly reflect on all what I would be leaving behind in this city. I realize I've been mad at my mom for not living her life, when I'm not exactly living mine either.

I'm 22 years old and the only thing I have going for me is this amazing job I have at a huge advertising company. Papa's business crumbled after he died. Probably because my mother was too hurt and overwhelmed to properly handle it. And I was 15 at the time so I couldn't exactly do anything about it.

It's a good thing he had all that money saved up.

I also realize I've never had a boyfriend before, except when I was five and had a crush on one of the boys in my class. But I wouldn't really count that as dating. It's not that I don't like boys or don't want to get married someday. I crave the fantasy and adventure of a happily ever after with my very own prince charming but even with all the men around constantly hitting on me, I've never really given love a chance.

My best friend Olivia is always trying to hook me up with random men. I've been on a few dates due to her influence and persuasion but they never really went far as she would have liked.

Which is why she made me promise that when I move to Castings, I would give love a try. And I am all up for it. I will find my prince charming and I will live my happily ever after.

Olivia is one of the reasons I decided to move to Castings. She moved there when she turned 20 for a good job opportunity. It would be nice to have someone familiar around in a whole new city.

As I reflect and think about the way my life is about to change, a tear breaks free and before I know it, I'm sobbing and thinking of all the different ways life would have gone if my dad didn't die in the accident that day.

My mom and I would have definitely had a better relationship.

One more thing. I forgot, it's my birthday today. I check my phone and see 43 messages and 20 missed calls from Olivia. I literally forgot it was my birthday today and I've been cleaning all day because I wanted to leave the house spotless.

I dial in a number and spend the rest of the night talking to my best friend.

I fall asleep with a whisper to myself, "Happy birthday to me."