The Whistler In The Night

Chapter 27

Two months had passed since everything with L, and tomorrow was my birthday. I had mixed feelings about it. On one hand, I was happy, but there was a sadness lingering beneath the surface. This was the first birthday without my family, and that emptiness hung over me like a shadow I couldn't shake.

I sat in bed with my laptop, watching some Netflix to distract myself. It was 9 p.m., and I still had a few hours until midnight—when my birthday would officially start. Scarlet was in her room, studying for a test she had in a couple of days. She had been working hard lately, trying to catch up after all the chaos we'd been through. Even though things had been peaceful for the last two months, she wanted to stay on track, and I admired that about her.

Life had finally settled into something normal, something beautiful. No more nightmares, no more running or fighting. Just peace. I lived with my girlfriend and her mom, Maeve, who treated me like her own son. For the first time in a long time, I felt comfortable, like I had a new family. The trauma of what we went through still lingered, but day by day, it was easier to live with.

Hours passed, and before I knew it, the clock struck midnight. Just as I realized it was officially my birthday, I heard a loud pop followed by the sound of the door swinging open. Confetti shot through the air, and there was Scarlet, standing in the doorway with a huge grin on her face.

"Happy birthday, babe!" she shouted, rushing toward the bed. She jumped onto it, throwing her arms around me, and we kissed as the confetti fell all over the floor.

I couldn't help but smile. She had a way of making everything feel special, even a small moment like this. My heart felt warm as we continued kissing, and for a second, I forgot about the past. It was just us, here, now.

The door creaked open again, and Mrs. Maeve peeked inside, a playful smile on her face. She cleared her throat, and Scarlet and I pulled apart quickly, laughing a little. Maeve walked in, holding a small gift bag.

"Happy birthday, Evan," she said warmly. "But you two should really clean up this mess," she added with a wink, gesturing to the confetti all over the floor.

We laughed as she handed me the gift bag, and I could tell from her expression that she was teasing us. Maeve had been incredible these past few months. She made me feel like I was part of her family, and tonight, I could tell she was doing everything she could to make sure I felt loved, even without my own family here.

"Thanks, Mrs. Maeve," I said, feeling a little emotional as I opened the bag. Inside was a small, thoughtful gift—one of my favorite books, a thriller I had mentioned wanting to read a while back. I looked up at her, touched by the gesture. "This is perfect. Thank you."

Maeve smiled. "You're welcome, Evan. Now, you two have fun, but not too much fun!" she added with a grin before leaving the room.

Scarlet and I laughed, and we spent the next few minutes cleaning up the confetti. After that, exhaustion hit me like a wave. I realized just how much the day had taken out of me—the memories of my family, the quiet reflection, and now the excitement of celebrating with Scarlet and Maeve.

"I'm so tired," I said, collapsing back onto the bed. Scarlet lay down next to me, her head resting on my shoulder.

"I can't wait for tomorrow," she whispered, "I have something planned for you, but you'll just have to wait and see."

I grinned, closing my eyes as she snuggled closer. "I'm sure whatever it is, it'll be amazing."

The confetti was gone, the room was quiet, and for once, I felt at peace. No fear, no looming threats. Just happiness. I drifted off to sleep, thinking about tomorrow and what the future might bring.

For the first time in a long while, I wasn't afraid of what was coming.