ASLEEP YET AWAKE

EPILOGUE

I could hear my phone ringing as I showered. I quickly grabbed my towel and rushed inside the room to get my phone. I picked up my phone without looking at the screen for the caller.

"Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday. happy birthday. Happy birthday to you. May God bless you. May God bless you. Happy birthday. Happy birthday. Happy birthday to you. Yayyyyyyyy!!". A smile blossomed on my face as I listened to the awful voice of Anna singing Happy Birthday to me.

I giggled at her efforts."Your voice is awful!" I told her still giggling. I could imagine her pouting at the other side.

"You are so mean Lara". She said faking the hurt in her voice.

"Oh! I was just joking. Thankyou so much Anna". I told her.

"Lets meet at the cafe. What say? It's alright if you have other plans. Afterall it's your birthday" She said in a matter of fact tone.

"No. I don't have any plans ready right now. I think I would like to catch up." I told her.

"Cool. Then meet you in a hour?" She asked

"Alright. Meet you then". I said and hung up.

I sighed happily and tossed my phone on my bed. I walked towards my closet to take out something to wear.

My hands involuntarily reached to the top shelf and pulled out a blue fabric dress. A silver chain fell  from it and I picked it up. It was the same dress that Ray gifted me and the same bracelet tha Mia tied to me wrist.

Without a second thought I took them out and lay them on my bed. I admired them for a few seconds and then slipped into the dress. I took the bracelet and tied it to my wrist. I smoothed the skirt of the dress with my hand as I walked forward to grab a hairbrush.

I slowly combed through my hair and made a french braid neatly on my head. When I was done with my hair. I walked towards the mirror and stood there to admire myself. I looked beautiful like the first time I wore that dress. A sad smile formed on my lips and tears threatened to spill down my eyes. I gulped. It was not the time to cry. I was done with all the cry.

Everthing was same just the consequences were different and I guess also the girl in the mirror looked different. She had grown up and learned how to deal with her own emotions. Instead of scattering them everywhere, she had learned to keep them in check.

Last time I wore this dress I had admiring eyes looking at me - Mia's. I also had an arm wrapped around me protectively- Ray's.

I have taken the first step towards moving on, acceptance. I  have accepted my past and today is the proof of this. I am wearing the same dress and the same bracelet which I once shoved in a corner of my closet in the fear that looking at it would bring back painful memories but today what I feel is not sadness. Yes, Maybe it is sadness for loosing the people I loved but moreover I also feel happy that I once had people whom I loved dearly and who loved me back in return.

A stray tear rolled down my cheek and I wiped it with my hand.

Maybe everything was not same but I have learned that change is for good.

THE END