JUST A LITTLE COMFORT

C H A P T E R F I V E

A couple of weeks later, I woke up to get my day started. I was going to switch on the coffee machine and load laundry. I was still rubbing my eyes while walking towards the kitchen and then the lights came on and both yelled, "Surprise". I jumped out of fright, and I looked at them unsure how to react.

They laughed at my reaction and started singing 'Happy Birthday' and I laughed because it was so awkward. They had balloons all over the apartment floor and had a banner up.

"Thank GOODNESS Sydney has a set routine! This would never work for me. You both would be waiting forever for me to wake up." Julia said, laughing and came over to hug me.

Cole made for me breakfast which was a real treat because I was a little lazy in the mornings to make a proper breakfast. Julia put a hat that she made on my head, and I laughed. I found them being this way so fun and sweet. I went to shower and felt a little excited about my birthday. That was a feeling I thought I'd never feel again. They told James it was my birthday so at work there were balloons at my desk, and he got me a cake. It was so awkward when people wished me. I wasn't used to that level of attention. I just smiled awkwardly and thanked them.

When I got home, Julia gave me a gift. She custom made some clothes for me. I loved it because I could never afford good quality clothes. She also gave me a perfume which I was so in awe of because I've never owned a perfume before. You should not be adorning yourself with jewellery or perfume or fancy coloured clothes or even doing up your hair until you have a husband to do it for. I guess my cousins only had to wait till eighteen before they were gifted boxes of beautiful jewellery pieces and extravagant gifts with pretty scented perfumes and here, I was still unable to experience that part of life. I did express to Julia that accepting these gifts was a little difficult because I could never repay her for her kindness, but she insisted on me keeping it.

"Sydney please! This is not enough. You do so much around here, and you bring us peace and you're such a loving friend and give us such delicious meals." She said, hugging me. There was a knock at the door and when I opened it, there was someone standing there with a huge bouquet of flowers.

"This is for Sydney." The delivery guy said.

"Uhhh, what?" I asked, confused and just signed for it. It was from Anna-Marie. I had never received flowers in my life. I felt so special. I just admired the flowers, and Julia gave me vases to put them in because there were a lot of flowers. Pink, white and red roses along with a mix of other flowers. I loved the Lilies and the carnations.

Cole got home late that night and saw the apartment surrounded with flowers.

"Wow. Someone's special." he said to me.

"Yes." I said, "Anna-Marie loves me." I said, light-heartedly.

"What? Did all of this come from Anna... wow... she really does love you." he said,genuinely.

I smiled. I called Anna earlier and thanked her alot. She was really sweet.

"How was your birthday?" He asked me. I told him about my day and gave him a piece of cake from the cake I received at work. He listened attentively and was happy that my day was special. He sat his bag down on the countertop and sat on the bar stool on the inside of the kitchen. He opened his bag and took out something that was wrapped in deep purple wrapping paper with a gold satin ribbon bow.