Today is my birthday. They say that as you get older, you become less excited about birthdays, but I beg to differ. In fact, I think I’m more excited than ever for this birthday. This will actually be my first birthday as a non-single girl. Unfortunately for me, my boyfriend, Cole, is busy tonight, and on top of that, my parents can’t be around. It’s nothing new and I’m not really disappointed about it.
I sigh and walk down the stairs, ready to just sit somewhere and be alone with my feelings. But instead, the doorbell rings. It’s Cole, arriving with impeccable timing. I open the door, grinning at him as he grins back. “Cole!” I jump into his arms as he envelops me in a hug.
“Happy birthday, Sweetheart,” he murmurs in my ear. “Surprise.”
“Thank you, Cole,” I reply, trying my hardest to keep my tears from spilling. We pull back and he keeps his hands on my waist, “Come in!” I pull him inside the house and shut the door behind him.
“So, I figured,” he pulls off his backpack and begins shuffling through it, “that since it’s your birthday, we could watch this!” He pulls out my favorite film and I smile, my eyes watering again.
“You remembered.”
“How could I forget?”
We sit on the couch, leaning against each other, only paying half-attention to the film. He keeps his arm around me the whole time and I find myself slowly leaning my head further and further into his chest.
“I wish my parents would be around for once.” It sort of just slipped out.
Cole’s body tenses, “I’m really sorry. I know how you feel, but I can assure you that your parents still love you. They aren’t abandoning you and thy never will,” he squeezes my hand lovingly.
And with that, the braces finally break and my tears spill as I bury my face in his chest, “Th-thank you C-C-Cole.”
He strokes my shoulder and presses his lips to the top of my head, “You’re welcome, Connie. I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
