September 4th
Beyoncé's house
BEYONCÉ
I woke up to the scent of sizzling bacon, buttery pancakes, and cinnamon rolls wafting through the air. My stomach growled, and a smile tugged at the corners of my mouth. Kicking off the covers, rushed out of bed and ran downstairs, taking the steps two at a time. The way I get excited over food you would think i could cook, but I cant. I can eat though, always down for a good munch.
"Happy Birthday, Bey!" My mom's voice rang out, cheerful as ever. I rounded the corner into the kitchen to find her standing by the stove, flipping pancakes with expert ease. My little sister Solange was perched at the table, grinning at me with that mischievous twinkle in her eye that said she was up to something.
"Happy Birthday, sis!" Solange said, bouncing in her seat as I approached. She practically lunged forward to give me a big hug.
"Mmm, smells amazing," I said, inhaling deeply "Thank you Mama." My eyes landed on the spread laid out on the kitchen table. I grinned, plopping down into the seat across from Solange.
Mama turned to me, a proud smile lighting up her face. "You know I had to make it special. Can't have my baby girl turning eighteen without doing it up right." She gave me a quick kiss on the top of my head before setting a plate in front of me.
I was about to dig in when I noticed a few gift-wrapped boxes stacked at the far end of the table.
"Mama, what's all this?" I asked, pointing at the presents.
She waved her hand as if it was no big deal, but the smile she was trying to hide said otherwise. "Just a little something."
I tore into the first one, and my heart nearly stopped. The latest DJI drone. My jaw dropped. "No way!"
Solange chuckled from across the table, clearly pleased with my reaction.
"That's not all," Mama said, motioning for me to open the next one.
Inside, there were several brand-new PS5 games—titles I'd been talking about for months—and some new parts for my gaming setup. I was speechless for a moment, staring at the haul.
"Mama, this is...this is too much," I said, shaking my head. "You didn't have to do all this."
My mom sat down beside me, reaching out to squeeze my hand. "I wanted to. You work hard, and I know you love your hobbies. You deserve it."
Tears pricked the corners of my eyes. "I really appreciate it, Mama. I don't know how you do it—everything you've done for me and Solange. Ever since..."
I hesitated, the words catching in my throat as a familiar bitterness rose up inside me. Thinking about him always left a bad taste in my mouth. My sperm doner. Our father. The one who walked out on us when I was still a kid, leaving Mama to raise two girls all on her own. Useless bum. That's the only way I could describe him.
Mama Tina gave me a knowing look, her expression soft. "You don't have to say it, Bey. I know." Mama's eyes glistened, but she smiled through it, that same warm, reassuring smile she always gave when things got tough. "We got through it together. You and Solange made it all worth it. And look at you now—turning eighteen, so smart, so talented. I couldn't be prouder of the woman you're becoming."
Her words hit me harder than I expected, and I had to blink back the tears that were threatening to spill. "I love you, Mama."
"I love you too, baby," she said softly.
Solange piped up, breaking the emotional moment. "Okay, are we gonna eat or what? These pancakes aren't getting any fluffier."
I chuckled, grateful for the distraction. "Yeah, yeah, I'm starving."
