ʀᴇᴄʟᴜsᴇ! homesick

CH 17: Birthday

It's not everyday you wake up crying.

It's also not everyday you turn 18.

One year closer to death.

It hit me pretty hard that this would be my last birthday for the foreseeable future.

I mean, my last two birthdays were horrible, but I guess third time's the charm.

I woke up after lunch, and I assume Bruce is the one that let me sleep in. I've missed so much school that it didn't even bother me at this point, I still had the highest grades in my grade.

I needed sleep almost as much as Tim did, I still got nightmares, but they're not as bad anymore.

The Manor was empty, but the peace and quiet meant that Damian and Tim were at school. Not fighting.

"Happy Birthday Viviana." Bruce said, as I passed by his office, not noticing he was still home.

I brushed by the door and came in. "Thanks Bruce... actually need to ask you something."

"Yes?" He says, pausing from whatever he's typing on his computer.

"Every birthday I have this tradition to go see my parents grave. Could I-?"

"Of course Viviana. Do you want to go before we celebrate or after?"

"Celebrate?"

"Your birthday."

"Oh we don't need to do that Bruce, I'm-"

"Too late, it's already been planned."

"You guys didn't have to do all that for me."

"You're apart of our family, Viviana. Do you want to go before or after we do that?"

"After?"

"Okay, we'll celebrate a little earlier so you're not coming home too late."

"Thank you Bruce."

Time flies by, and suddenly I was sitting in Bruce's seat, at the head of the table. Alfred brought out the cake, that had 18 candles on it.

While they sang happy birthday, I awkwardly sat, staring at my candles, trying not to make the situation worse.

The wax dripping down onto the cake, when I realized that I was like the fire. I was burning, blazing, alive. But just like fire, I ruined everything I touched.

When the singing stopped, I took a look at my candles, burning made a wish, and blew them out.

"What did you wish for?" Dick asks.

"If I tell you, it won't come true."

"You're no fun Vivi."

"You're too nosy Dick."

Alfred bumped me out of the way to serve up cake and ice cream to everyone.

As we ate, we talked and Barbara wished me happy birthday. Tim was half awake as usual, but Alfred finally decided to cut him off of coffee. Damian and Dick were talking, probably about sparring or something. Bruce sat contently at the head of the table. It was a sight to behold not having any fighting at the dinner table.

Alfred was invited to join us, but he stood taking pictures instead. Maybe I'd be around next year to see them, but I doubted it.

It was time for presents.

I opened Alfred's present first, he was my favorite.

It was heavy, and I ripped the nicely done wrapping paper, and it was a college level biology textbook.