The War.

Chapter 8: Shattered Celebration.

Ella rushed down the stairs, her face lighting up as she twirled in the beautiful gown Charlotte had made for her. The soft fabric shimmered in the light, and the color complemented her perfectly. As soon as she saw the decorations, a wave of emotion washed over her, and she melted, overwhelmed by the love and effort that had gone into making her day special.

Without hesitation, she ran into Mia's arms, hugging her tightly. Mia smiled, wrapping her arms around Ella, holding her close. Ella and Lila had always seen Mia as a second mother, someone who was always there for them, offering warmth and care.

Before the war had broken out, Mia would visit them often, each time bringing expensive gifts that made their eyes sparkle with joy. But it wasn't the gifts that had made Mia so special to them—it was the way she made them feel safe, loved, and important. In this moment, as Ella clung to her, it was clear that those feelings hadn't changed. Mia's presence had always been a source of comfort and strength for them, and today, on Ella's birthday, it was more evident than ever.

"Happy birthday," Mia whispered, her voice filled with warmth.

Just then, Charlotte walked in, carefully holding the birthday cake in her hands. The cake was beautifully decorated, a testament to the care and love that had gone into making it.

"Mia?" Charlotte called softly. With a simple flick of her wrist, Mia used her power to light the candles, the soft glow illuminating Ella's face and making her eyes sparkle with joy.

Ella leaned in, the flickering flames reflecting in her eyes. As she prepared to blow out the candles, Charlotte smiled warmly and said, "Make a wish, darling."

Ella closed her eyes for a moment, thinking of her wish, and then gently blew out the candles, the room filling with quiet anticipation and the soft scent of the extinguished flames.

-

"Make a wish, darling," Mum said to me, her voice gentle and encouraging.

I stared at the candles, their tiny flames dancing in the air. What do I wish for?

I squeezed my eyes shut, my heart pounding with the weight of my wish. I wish... for everything to go back to normal, for everything to be okay!

As I blew out the candles, I silently hoped that somehow, my wish could make everything right again.

-

"I have a gift for you, darling," Mia said as she picked up a small gift box.

Ella's eyes lit up with excitement. "What is it?" she asked eagerly.

Mia smiled warmly. "It's a collection of silver jewelry."

Ella carefully opened the box, revealing the shimmering pieces inside. As she admired the jewelry, Mia began to help her put it on.

"You look amazing," Mia said, beaming with pride.

Ella grinned, feeling special. "Thank you, Mia!"

Mia leaned in and whispered, "I have another gift for you, too."

Ella's curiosity piqued. "What is it?" she asked, her voice filled with anticipation.

Mia signaled for her to follow. The rest of the group trailed behind as they made their way down to the basement. There, Ella's eyes widened in delight as she spotted a small, adorable white kitten.

"KITTYY!!" she squealed, rushing over to the kitten and scooping it up in her arms.

Mia watched with a satisfied smile, happy to have made Ella's day even more special.

Charlotte leaned in and kissed Mia on the cheek. "Thank you, Mia," she whispered softly.

"No problem, sweetheart," Mia replied with a smile. She made her way to the living room and sat down, watching as Ella and Lila played happily with the kitten.

A moment later, Marjorie stormed in, her expression furious. "Do you really think we have the resources for a cat?!" she shouted.

Mia sighed, her patience wearing thin. "Yeah, I do. Why do you insist on arguing with me, Marjorie? It's a day of celebration. Can you not?"

Marjorie's anger only intensified. "We don't have the resources for a cat, Mia! You need to stop doing whatever you want! You can't just make these decisions without consulting me!"

Mia rolled her eyes, clearly unimpressed. "It's not like I care what you think, Marjorie."

"You suck, Mia. Nobody even likes you; we just tolerate you," Marjorie scoffed, her words dripping with contempt. "We don't even need you here," she muttered under her breath.

Mia raised an eyebrow, a hint of disbelief in her voice. "Oh, really?" she said with a forced chuckle. "Well then, let's see how you manage without me." Without another word, Mia stormed out, her frustration evident.

Charlotte, unable to hold back her emotions, began to cry. Ella, who had witnessed the entire exchange, burst into tears as well.

As Mia stepped outside, she realized she had just left the love of her life and her children behind. She started to walk back but hesitated, refusing to let Marjorie win. Determined, she turned away and sat down on the porch of the abandoned neighbor's house, waiting for Marjorie to come running after her.

As Mia sat on the porch, she suddenly realized how foolish and immature she was being. She rushed back, determined to apologize to Charlotte. As she entered the house, she overheard Marjorie say, "Yeah, she left because you made her upset. You need to get rid of that cat!" directed at Ella.

Fury surged through Mia. With a sudden burst of strength, she shoved Marjorie, sending her crashing to the ground. "Go play with your kitty, Ella," Mia forced a smile. "I hate you so much, Marjorie. I can handle your hatred and criticism, but targeting a 10-year-old on her birthday? You're just cruel," she said, her voice icy and sharp.

Mia left the room and went to her and Charlotte's bedroom, where she found Charlotte crying on the bed. "I'm so sorry, sweetheart," Mia said softly.

Charlotte sniffled. "I really thought you had just left me."

Mia forced a light-hearted smile. "I'm offended by that."

She sat down next to Charlotte, and they began to talk. A few minutes later, someone knocked on the door.

"Come in?" Mia called.

Reece walked in, his expression furious. "Mia, what the actual fuck is wrong with you?"

Mia simply smirked. "You're such a monster," he whispered as he turned and walked back down the stairs. Mia rolled her eyes.

"I'm going to go talk to Ella, okay sweetheart?" Mia said as she quietly left the room. She entered Ella's room, finding her quietly sobbing in bed.

"Hey, Ella?" Mia said softly. "Oh, sweetie, don't cry. It's your birthday."

Ella could barely speak through her tears.

"I'm so sorry, darling," Mia said gently. "How about I go talk to Marjorie for you?"

Ella nodded, and Mia left the room, determined to resolve the situation.

Mia walked down the hall to Marjorie and Reece's room. The door was slightly ajar, and she paused to listen. Through the crack, she could hear Marjorie crying quietly.