CH 1 . MY BIRTHDAY

Chapter 1: December 25, Thursday, 1997

Today is my birthday and also Christmas. I know I'm supposed to be happy, but I'm not. My grandma can't come tonight because she's ill. My parents keep telling me she has a fever or some medical problem, but I feel there's more to it. Last year, she came to my birthday, and it was the best because of her amazing stories. She's in her 60s but still fit, and her tales are full of thriller, horror, mystery, and suspense. She's also a big comics fan. However, her condition worsened after September 23, 1997.

She calls me often, assuring me she'll visit soon and telling me not to worry my parents. They've asked her many times to live with us, but she always refuses and changes the topic. She prefers to stay in her own home where she lived with my grandpa. I've never met him or even seen his photo. My mom says he had an affair when my grandma was pregnant, leading to their divorce. She says he even used to beat grandma.

Suddenly, my mom calls me. I close my diary and head downstairs. "Jimmy, Uncle David and Aunt Jennifer are here! Come down!" When I reach the living room, I see Uncle David and Aunt Jennifer. They wish me a happy birthday, and I thank and greet them. Uncle David is my dad's best friend, and Aunt Jennifer, who is six months pregnant, is his wife. They have a daughter, Emilia, who's also nine and my good friend. We go to the same school.

Later, Aunt Nancy and her boyfriend Nick arrive. She's my mom's friend, almost like a younger sister. Then, my friends Brian, Jack, and William come. Everyone is enjoying the party, but I feel a bit bored. My friends and Emilia notice it when I cut the cake. They start giving me presents, and my mom hands me a box saying, "This is from Grandma." My eyes widen with happiness.

I take my friends to my room to open the gifts. While they're busy, I open Grandma's gift. Inside, I find two newly launched comics of my favorite hero and an envelope labeled "Read it alone." I think it's another one of her stories, but I don't open it immediately. Emilia sees me putting the envelope back.

After the party, everyone starts to leave. My friends' parents pick them up, and I give them return gifts. Uncle David, Aunt Jennifer, and Emilia leave, and I bid them farewell. Aunt Nancy and her boyfriend also leave. When I return to my room, it's past 2:00 AM. I take out the envelope, which contains some old, tattered papers with letters written in dark red ink.

I start to read the first page...