Losing Him

Eighteen Candles

Chapter Seven

Eighteen Candles

The leaves on the trees were dying, the air had become cooler and the winds, stronger. Autumn was definitely under way. It was Sunday May 2nd, 8:46 am and Savannah Brown was officially an eighteen-year-old.

She had been lying awake in bed feeling too old yet too young at the same time, reminiscing on her final days as a minor.

"Happy birthday Savannah so tan-a!" exclaimed Ben as he jumped onto Savannah and shook her maniacally,

"thanks Benj, but you can't just add 'a' onto every word to make it sound like my name," laughed Savannah as she wrapped her arms around her little brother,

"Sure I can-a, Savannah," he retorted, "come downstairs for your birthday breakfast, I'm starving" he complained as he pulled her out of bed.

Savannah washed her face and made her way down stairs, she was greeted by her mother, father and Ben, all beaming at her, standing above the dining table embedded with a plethora of delicious food.

"Happy birthday babygirl!" smiled Savannah's father as he kissed her on the forehead and pulled her in for a bone-cracking hug. He placed his hands on his daughter's shoulders and searched her face with his hazel eyes, Savannah was afraid he was going to cry.

Savannah had never seen either of her parents cry and she was thankful for it, she would avoid anything that made her uncomfortable, a crying parent being one.

"Where has the time gone?" he spoke softly, gazing wide-eyed at Savannah, "My princess is finally a queen," he laughed. Savannah was surprised yet appreciative of her father's affection, she understood that becoming an 'adult' was a big moment for him too.

"Happy birthday darling," said Savannah's mother as she kissed her on both cheeks.

"Can we do all this after we eat?!" complained Ben.

After a delightful meal, Anthony, Savannah's father pulled beautifully wrapped gifts from underneath the table,

"This is from me," he said, handing Savannah a gift in a large gift bag.

It was a pot plant.

"Ash tree, I know how much you love the one in the backyard," he spoke.

It was true, Savannah always found comfort in sitting around the ash tree in her backyard, she felt a connection to it that she felt nobody could understand, not even herself.

Savannah was grinning like an idiot, it was so beautiful, it was a gift that she never knew she wanted until she received it.

"Thanks so much dad!" beamed Savannah,

"I told you she'd love it," teased her father as her mother rolled her eyes.

"I know how much you enjoy reading Savannah, Mrs Bernard told me you were asking around for the 'Sisters of Sardeson' series" she said, sounding more and more excited every word she spoke,

"So I bought you the entire series!" she said beaming, "all six books!"

Savannah's heart filled with joy, the 'Sisters of Sardeson' was her favourite book series.

She wasn't always able to borrow some of them at the library, they always seemed to be checked out and the ones that she could borrow were always in crappy conditions.

"Mum! This must've cost you so much! I mean... thank you, so much." Breathed Savannah appreciatively as her mother grinned at her.

Ben cleared his throat and stood up,