Daddy Issues

75 - Happy Birthday

A perfect month flies by. I'm with Dan whenever I can be. Which is most nights. We can't go out because we can't risk anybody catching us together, but we don't care. We have plenty of fun within the confines of his apartment.

Keeping it all a secret is a little annoying sometimes, but telling the occasional lie is a small price to pay for how happy Dan makes me. I'm so happy that, for the first time in a long time, I'm actually excited that it's my birthday.

I had some nice birthdays back when Dad still lived with us and things were relatively happy at home. But ever since he left, my birthday just seemed to be a reminder to my mother of the day I came into this world to ruin her life. And she'd make that known to me.

She'd usually buy me a gift but it would be either something that I had absolutely no interest in or something that sent a passive-aggressive message. Like the time she got me running shoes for my fifteenth birthday when she knew I hated running. We got into a huge fight about it when I told her as much and I ended up crying before I even left for school.

But this birthday will be different. Dan said he planned me a surprise tonight and before that, I'm having dinner with Mel. My mother hasn't mentioned my birthday coming up, but I don't care this year, since I'll be with people I love. And I'm especially happy to celebrate my birthday, because at least for a few short months, the age gap will feel just a little smaller.

I spent the night at home, because Dan was out late for band practice yesterday, so I find my mother in the kitchen when I head downstairs for breakfast before my shift at the coffee shop. I was kind of hoping she'd be gone already, but I guess I'm not that lucky.

'Morning,' I greet her.

To my surprise, she looks to and smiles at me. She even gets up to walk over to me.

'Happy birthday,' she says, pulling me in for a quick kiss on my cheek.

'Oh,' I say, before I can help myself. 'You remembered.'

'Of course I remembered. You think I'd forget the day you nearly ripped my body in half?'

I almost roll my eyes. Of course she manages to make it about herself within seconds.

'Well, thanks,' I say awkwardly.

'I assume you have plans?' she asks, sitting back down to resume her breakfast.

'Yeah,' I say a little shortly. That's a weird way to ask it, right? Making sure I don't expect to being doing anything with her. 'Having dinner with Mel.'

I grab some yogurt from the fridge and toss in some grapes and granola. Then I hover by the kitchen island with my bowl in my hands. Does she expect me to sit down at the table with her?

Unfortunately, she's looking at me and doesn't seem to be getting ready to leave. I sit down across from her because it would be weird to just ignore her.

When I sit down, she slides something over to me. An envelop.

'Here you go.'

'Oh, thanks.'

I pull out a Happy Birthday card signed:

- Mom

with a twenty dollar note inside. I guess that's nice. Definitely a lot more useful than things I've received in the past.

'I didn't know what you'd like,' she says. 'You never seem to like the gifts I get you, so I figured you could get something yourself.'

I bite back a retort about her going out of her way to find things she knows I won't like and put on a smile.