Orphan

-Lucas-

      I blew out the candles with a smile on my face, the notes of "Happy Birthday" ringing in my ears as my neighbor, Mr. Harrison played the piano while Mrs. Harrison sang. All my neighbors were there, but Mr. Harrison gave piano lessons and Mrs. Harrison taught choir at the high school, so they were basically the musical experts in my neighborhood. Finally the last chord rang out, and everyone cheered and clapped. Someone started chanting cut the cake! Cut the cake! and it didn't take long for everyone to join in. Grinning, I watched as Mr. Harrison stood up from the piano and began to cut into the cake. Another cheer went up, and everyone was served a slice of chocolate cheesecake.

      The rest of that day went by in a blur of balloons, presents, and cake, and I was exhausted by the time everyone started heading home. Finally it was just the Harrisons left. Mr. Harrison was about thirty with dark hair and green eyes just like mine, and about the kindest man I'd ever met. My father had left me and my mom when I was only four, so I don't have any clear memories of him. Mr. Harrison was like the father I never had. Mrs. Harrison was around thirty also with hazel eyes and thick, wavy dark brown hair.

      "You okay, Lucas?" Mr. Harrison asked me, clapping a hand on my shoulder. I nodded.

      "Yeah, I'll be okay. Thanks Mr. Harrison," I replied, smiling at him and then at Mrs. Harrison.

      "12, that's a big milestone, Lucas. Happy Birthday," Mrs. Harrison said.

      "Thanks," I said again.

      "I'm really sorry your mom couldn't be here today. I hope it was still fun anyway," she said quietly, genuine sadness showing in her warm brown eyes. A pang went through my chest, and I swallowed hard before answering. My mom had been in the ICU for the past two weeks after a cancerous tumor had been found in her brain, and she wasn't able to be here for my birthday today. She had fallen into a coma only a few days ago.

      "It was really great, thank you so much," I said, my voice breaking at the end as a lump rose in my throat again. Mr. Harrison wrapped me in a hug, and I couldn't stop the rush of tears as they poured down my cheeks. He rubbed my back as I cried, not saying anything. Finally I sniffed and wiped my cheeks hurriedly, letting Mrs. Harrison give me a hug before thanking them again.

      "You know where to find us if you need anything," Mrs. Harrison said. I nodded, smiling faintly as they stepped outside.

      I closed the door behind them, flopping down on the couch and turning on the tv. I flipped it to Netflix and started the next episode of the show I'd been watching. I watched it for a little while, eventually getting bored. I turned it off and went to my room, changing into my pajamas even though it was only around seven. Wandering back out to the kitchen, I warmed up some leftover pizza and sat down at the table. When I'd finished, I turned off the lights and went to my room. Closing the door, I grabbed my book and started reading.

      I read until my eyelids began to get heavy, closing my book and going into the bathroom. I brushed my teeth and washed my face before going back to bed, slowly drifting into sleep.

      The next few days were the same: wake up, eat breakfast, walk to my bus stop and head off to school. My life looked the same as it always had to other people, but what they didn't know was that my mom was slowly slipping farther and farther away from me. I'd received a call from the hospital a few days after my birthday, updating me on my mom's current status. They told me that she wasn't doing any worse, but she wasn't really doing any better either. Today after school Mr. Harrison was going to take me to the hospital to see my mom, and I couldn't decide whether to be excited, nervous, or scared. The day dragged by until finally the last bell rang. I raced out of the classroom, practically running to my locker. I twirled the lock, putting in my combination and opening the locker, grabbing my backpack and shoving my school binder inside before slamming it shut and putting the lock back on. As I stepped outside, I felt the cool breeze against my face and I was calm for a moment.