Ender

Ender Pearl

Seven Years Earlier

"Ally," my mom called for me from downstairs.

I slowly cracked my eyes open, not wanting the light of the day to blind me. My pillow hugged my face gently as I turned around to lay in my back.

"I'm up," I responded through a yawn.

I sat up on my bed with my eyes half closed, still in a drowsy state of mind. My eyes shot open as I realised what day it was. I jumped out of bed, and bolted through my door and down the stairs to meet my mom.

"Good morning sweety," she said with a smile. "and happy birthday."

She threw her arms around me and kissed my cheek. I beamed with happiness, the kind of pure happiness that only little kids understand, because once you reach a certain age you realise that the things that used to make you happy are just... Blah

My mom took a step back and leaned over with her hands on her knees.

"Guess what," she winked. My eyes lit up before she could even tell me. "Your dad took the day off today, he'll be here soon."

I still remember what she looked like when she told me. She was also super excited that my dad was going to be home. I noticed her brown hair was done nicely, her hazel green eyes shined just as bright as mine if not more. Her smile could lighten up the darkest night. She wore a really cute dress with flowers on it that hugged her every curve.

I remember wishing that one day I could look as beautiful as her. She was perfection, like a goddess from one of the anime shows that I loved watching.

The news of my dad coming home had us both literally jumping for joy. He was a scientist at a company called Stone Enterprise. It was a place that invented all sorts of technology and gadgets to make everyday life easier for people. Usually he would spend the week stuck at his lab and only be able to see us on the weekend. But today was a weekday and he was coming.

"So what'll it be for breakfast?" Mom asked.

I thought for a moment, "pancakes!" I smiled happily.

"Coming right up," she got to work on her famous double chocolate chip pancakes, I loved them.

I ran upstairs to get ready before dad got home. The excitement built inside of me like a confetti popper. I was eight years old today.

I had just gotten finished with my morning routine when I heard the front door open and close. For a second silence filled the air. Then his voice reverberated throughout the entire house.

"Surprise, I'm home!"

My dad's voice was deep but friendly. He could make anyone laugh, and he made friends really easy. Whenever he was home from work and we went out people everywhere knew him.

I sprinted down the stairs and met his gaze. I threw myself into his great big arms that wrapped around me like a gentle python.

"Happy birthday pumpkin," he spoke softly in my ear. He let me go and stood up to look at my mom. "There's my hot trophy wife," he joked.

They embraced each other and kissed. "Eww, daaaad." I made a smirky face.

"I'm starving, what's for breakfast...?" He chuckled.

The day went by just like this. The three of us laughing and enjoying being together as a family. This was one of the happiest days of my life, and the saddest. It's weird how sometimes things that seem so good can turn around and wreck everything. My dad had a saying for things like this. He would call them diamond swords, beautiful to look at but deadly.