SIXTEENTH

ONE

     I was beaming with so much smile as I blew out the candles on my cake, I just turned fifteen in the best way possible, and as someone who has always had her birthdays the way she wanted, this one was different.
     My Dad was surprised at me this time as I wasn't interested in having a celebration, but trust my dad to always come through for his princess.
If only I knew that this would have been my last happy birthday celebration maybe I would have spent it alone with my dad.
All my life my dad has been the only person dear to me, well, my mum died while birthing me, and my dad loved me so much, I almost didn't miss having a mum plus he didn't marry because he didn't want to subject me to any stepmom wickedness.
Today was my 15th Birthday and I got more than I could have ever asked for, a dad who loved me more than anything in the world, my best friend Leah was there, my dad invited some friends from school and his business associate and best friend Christopher was there with his annoying son, Leo, it's so sad that the saying "an apple doesn't fall far from the tree" doesn't apply to my favorite uncle Chris, Leo is so far from being the perfect son he pretends to be around family. We go to the same school so I know all about his escapades and flock of women.
It was almost 12 and my birthday was almost over, I stepped into my dark room and turned on the light bulb, and there it was my last birthday present, neatly wrapped in a shiny blue wrapper I trust my dad to always use my favorite color in wrapping stuff for me, he always does this, keeping my last birthday present on my bed before I retire for the night, every year I try to catch him walking into my room but I never do. I could almost guess what was in it from the shape of the wrapped gift on my bed, and I hadn't bothered to open it yet.
I took off my shoes and walked over to my window, I looked at the trees and beautiful flowers in the side garden of our house, I looked down at the flowers and then at the daisies sprouting.
I was turning 16 the next year and I just couldn't shake off the anxiety I was feeling inside, I just felt like something was wrong, my dad was always making quiet calls and I heard him say "Give me a year, she isn't ready yet" who wasn't ready and what for? , I just couldn't take my mind off it. I drifted away in thoughts for a while, then I decided to have my bath when my mind went back to the present on my bed, I opened it and saw it was a locket, with my dad and mum on one side and a little picture of me on the other side.
     This has so far been the best gift I've gotten, the picture of my mum highlights her features so much that at a glance, you'd think it was me, I was growing up to look so much like her, how I miss the fact that she wasn't here or the fact that I never got to call her mom or have her braid my hair. I found my dad in his study, reading as always.
"Dad"?, I called out as I rushed in to hug him, I loved him so much and even more now, he's the best dad in the world and I'm lucky to have him.
"Hmm, Mara my dear, why are you crying so much my darling, " he asked with so much concern in his eyes.
"I'm sorry that I remind you of her, I'm sorry I was the reason she died, " I said between sobs and I could feel myself choking.
        It was happening again, I felt like I was choking and I couldn't breathe, the study was becoming blurry and I felt myself falling, the last thing I heard was the muffling sound of my dad's voice calling out my name and shaking me profusely.

I passed out.