Fear

37 • Birthday surprise

It was just another day in the institution to me. Time had become fluid, its passage marked more by routines and moments than by dates or seasons. No access to windows, a calendar, or a mobile phone, just a clock on the bedside table.

As I got dressed, I sighed heavily, feeling Tyler's absence more than anything. By now, he'd been gone four days.

Just as I finished brushing my hair, I heard a knock on the door. "Emily?" A familiar deep voice called through.

"Ty?" I stumbled to the door in a rush, flinging it open to finally see him standing there, a huge grin on his face.

As I flung my arms around his neck and hugged him, he chuckled deeply.
"Looks like someone missed me. How are you?"

"I'm good. Better now you're here," I giggled, a blush seeping through my cheeks.

He placed a kiss on my forehead and smiled, a genuine happiness in his eyes. I thought he'd have more to say but he kind of just stood there staring at me for a while.

"Ty? You there?" I teased, waving my hand in front of his face.

"You don't know what day it is, do you?" He said, suddenly. I glanced at him curiously, "No...? What day is it?"

He laughed, "Come on, I've got something to show you."

He gently led me out of the room, taking me downstairs. I followed him with a confused expression the whole way, but I wondered if this was going to be the surprise he'd told me about.

As we neared the cafeteria, I could hear a faint hum of activity that seemed to shush as I got closer to the door. Tyler told me to close my eyes and guided me carefully through the doors. "Keep them closed," he whispered, sounding a little bit nervous.

Finally, he stopped and squeezed my shoulders, "Okay, open them."

As I opened them, I gasped in surprise. The cafeteria, usually plain and functional, had been transformed into a festive space. Streamers adorned the walls, colourful balloons floated around, and a banner stretched across the room with "Happy Birthday Emily" written in bold letters.

James, Sam, Lee, Tom, and a few others were stood there with smiles on their faces, holding balloons and small gifts. Music played softly in the background, a sound I hadn't heard in a long time. The sight overwhelmed me, and tears welled up in my eyes.

"Oh my god," I managed to say, my voice choked with emotion. "Thank you, everyone."

Tyler shuffled awkwardly behind me, his hands shoved into his pockets. "Happy Birthday, Emily," he said, his voice quiet.

I turned to him, my heart overflowing with happiness. "Thanks, Ty. This is amazing."

He gave a small, shy smile. "I, uh, I wanted to do something special for you."

The party was a blast. We laughed, exchanged stories, and enjoyed each other's company. It was like a moment of joy amidst the challenges we faced. I couldn't stop smiling, and even now writing this, I can't stop smiling. It's one of my happiest memories.

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Later that evening, after the party wound down, Tyler took my hand and led me back to our bedroom. He closed the door behind us, looking a bit more nervous than usual.

"I, uh, have something else for you," he said softly, reaching into a bag he had hidden earlier.

He pulled out a beautifully wrapped box and handed it to me. I peered at him and slowly unwrapped it.

Inside was a beautiful delicate necklace with a heart-shaped pendant, encrusted with diamonds. I gasped in awe, my fingers tracing the sparkling gems.

"Oh, Ty..." The breath caught in my throat as I stared at it in awe.

He scratched the back of his neck, his cheeks reddening slightly. "I'm glad you like it. There's one more thing," he said, handing me a dress bag. I gleamed up at him. He seemed so happy.

I opened it to find a sleek black evening dress. The fabric was smooth and elegant, and I could already imagine wearing it.

"Oh wow... It's perfect," I said softly, overwhelmed.

"I thought you might like it," he grinned, "Happy birthday."

Unable to contain my joy, I flung my arms around him, pulling him into a tight hug. "Thank you, Tyler. For everything."

He hugged me back just as tightly. "You deserve it. I'm really glad you're here with me."

We stood there for a moment, wrapped in each other's arms. It felt so natural. So warm and beautiful.

But that wasn't the last of it. He had more planned.

He pulled away and gestured to the dress and necklace on the bed. "Put them on and come meet me in the dining room. I've got more for you."

As he slipped out of the room, I couldn't move for a while, my mind racing as I tried to process everything. He'd planned and executed a whole birthday party for me, been out and bought beautiful expensive gifts for me, and was now treating me to dinner? I sure was a lucky girl.

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