Her Freed Spirit

Birthday love

The morning sun beamed through my window landing on my arm. Stretching my body around I wipe the sleep from my eyes. I look at the calendar on my wall and notice the date. Oh sh*t!!! I jump out of bed only to have my foot caught in the covers causing me to slowly fall out of bed. I saw myself falling but did nothing to stop it so I accepted my fate.

I get closer to my calendar and make sure I'm reading the right date. December 4. December 4. DECEMBER MOTHER FLUBBING 4th!!! It's Sunday and it's my 18th birthday.

"It's my birthday!! My birthday! The day of my birth!! Ooo damn my breath stank." I stop doing my celebration dance to go brush my teeth and wash my face. After I do my morning routine, I walk to my closet looking for that special red book. "Here you are!" Grabbing the book I set on the flood.

'It's a boy! My bad it was a girl.' It written across my baby photo book. My hand slides over the bumpy red leather that tells the story of my childhood. Flipping to the first page I see a picture of me when I was first born. My parents dresses me in a onesie that had dinosaurs on it. "They really thought I was another boy." I continue flipping through the pages until I find the picture I was searching for. My 10th birthday picture. The last one I actually celebrated with my parents being physically here.

I still remember that day. We had Pizza Hut that day. That's all I wanted for my birthday. Pizza, cake, and having my parents there. They spent so much time out of the country they missed birthdays regularly. But we always got a call from them. They said how much they loved us and hope all our birthday wishes come true. Not once did they apologize for being out of the country and not physically with us.

Of course we never wanted them to apologize. Even at a young age we understood they went around the world saving children. Sure they missed holidays, birthdays, and games but it was about more than us. It was about saving the children who wouldn't have a chance at life without their medical treatment. I never wanted an apology for that. I understood.

Closing my photo book and placing it safely in my closet I decide to grace my family with my newly achieved 18 year old presence. Walking down the stairs I can hear voices in the kitchen. I lean on the door way to the kitchen watching my brothers and Uncle.

"Jamal I told you to cut the fruit not eat it!" Jeremiah says before slapping Jamal on the head. Jamal runs his head and continues eating the fruits off the cutting board.

"Look I don't give a damn if you're older than me. You got one more time to hit me and I'm going to beat your ass." Jamal says with a smirk on his face.

"Lil bro, I will kick your ass. This ain't what you want." Jeremiah stares at Jamal with a challenging look.

"Ooooo y'all both said ass!!!! Uncle Mike did you hear them say ass!!!" Jaden yells out from his seat on the island. He looks to be decorating muffins.

Uncle Mike stands over the stove cooking something in a pan. He takes three deep breaths before addressing his nephews. "Jamal and Jeremiah, how many damn times have I told y'all black asses to stop cursing around your little brothers. I swear y'all hard headed asses don't listen. Not stop saying ass because I whoop some ass!"

"But you just said it." All three of my brothers respond before laughing. Uncle Mike looks at his nephews before laughing. He notices me out of the corner of his eye. "Well if it isn't the birthday girl!"

Soon I'm stuck between two mounds of muscle and a tiny body holding on to my waist. I wrap my arms around my brothers enjoying their warmth.

"Happy birthday Sophy." Jaden says. I lean down and plant a kiss on his forehead before ruffling his curls.