Backlogged Dreams [h.s]

PART ONE

Sometime in 1953...

Looking around at my family that surrounds me, I feel nothing but lucky. We're all alive, we're all celebrating, we're all... here.

Despite the crying, arguing, and fear, we're all here.

My parents, my brothers and sister, all our grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and even the friends that seem closer than some of our family ever could.

I'm close to tears when I come back to reality, a Happy Birthday song now in the air. For me... it turns out turning 10 is a big deal.

Feeling a hand on my shoulder, I turn to see my mom who has seemingly brought a cake out from nowhere. She kisses me on the side of my head after she places it in front of me, "Happy Birthday, my little twin," she whispers.

I beam at her while the crowd around me finishes their song and cheers. It's almost overwhelming with this much attention on me. I look down at the chocolate-flavored cake as a distraction of the amount of eyes on me.

"Make a wish, Marj!" My eldest brother, Anthony, raises his voice from the other end of the table. He stands between the twins, Willie and Tommy, while holding our toddler sister, June. Anyone within 100 miles would know of our relation, with the red hair and blue eyes we inherited from our mother.

I send them all a small smile and prepare my wish.