It's Only Us in the World

A 5'3 Girl and the Whole World

 "Mafuyu! Where did your father put the cake?"

I walked into the kitchen with a curious gaze as my mom probed every counter surface in the area.

"I'm not sure," I replied while scanning the fridge. Nothing but groceries and leftovers. "Do you need me to ask him?"

She groaned and slumped into a chair.

"Yes please, Mafuyu. What would I do without you?"

I just smiled in return.

"Father," I called from the doorway of his work room. His desk was scattered with documents and pens. "Where did you put Mother's cake? We're supposed to be celebrating right now."

He flinched at the words "right now."

"Shoot...her birthday's today...." he murmured sheepishly as he spun his chair to face me. "Gosh, oh my gosh. I completely forgot, sorry. My boss assigned a project that's due by the end of this week and oh my gosh..."

"I can buy a cake at the convenience store," I offered immediately. I noticed a glimmer of hope brighten his eyes.

"Gosh you're amazing Mafuyu," he sighed in relief, turning his chair back around towards his desk. "Keep this a secret between you and me, please? Your mother would not be happy."

"I'm sure she wouldn't," I agreed from the hallway. My slippers slid around my feet and I unlocked the door. "Mom, I'm going to pick up the cake Father ordered!"

I heard a faint "okay" and "be safe" before the door slammed shut. The world was a bare tundra that night. Illuminating the world vaguely, the moon beamed shyly past the silhouettes of my neighborhood. A 5'3 girl walking alone in the dead of night with the whole world watching from upon her back.

The man behind the register, likely middle aged, was notably exhausted. He had deep, swallowing crescents under his eyes and his gaze met nothing. A sting of remorse jabbed me in the shoulder but I shook it off.

None of the cakes they had were to my mother's liking, so I chose to examine the snacks instead. Perhaps we could have a birthday "potluck" instead. The idea made me giggle before I came to my senses. No, no. That's silly. I grabbed the last box of cookies without another thought.

I glanced down the aisles one by one in case I had missed any important information before concluding my search had been sufficient. I turned to find the line when there, I saw it.

And it saw me too.

God, what was I doing?

I opened my mouth to say something but she beat me to it.

"Excuse me are you--"