Echo

Focus

August 13th, 2022

"1...2...3...," my eyes were blindfolded. I thought, what did I get myself into? "and... now!" My blindfold was removed and a bright light appeared to my eyes. "Happy Birthday!" I looked around and saw my family and friends gathered around the kitchen table with a cake, right in the middle. The cake was chocolate, with vanilla icing on top and dark blue swirls surrounding the outside. In the middle of the cake, I saw "Happy Birthday Eric," written in the same blue icing on the sides. The number 22 candles poking out of the top. As I walked around to everyone and greeted them, I heard from behind me a voice that I had been hearing all my life. "Happy Birthday Sweetie!" I turned to see my beautiful mother standing there with a gift-wrapped box in her hands. "Thank you, mother." She handed me the box. "This isn't the puppy I've been waiting years for, is it?" I looked at her and smiled, she smiled back. "No, it's something even better!" I opened the box up to see the same old watch my dad used to wear all the time. "Are you sure?" I told her as her eyes locked with mine and a tear flowed softly down her face. "Yes, you are going to be something for your father to be proud of." I hugged her tight "I will try my best for you." She smiled and walked away. The little "party", I guess that's what we called it, went on for a few and I got to see everyone and talk to them all. At that very moment, I heard a very distinct voice calling me. "Eric!" I turned away to see her. Standing perfectly where the light came off her lightly tanned skin just right. Her long brunette hair flowing when she walks. Dark brown eyes glistened in the sunlight. The body of an hourglass. She was a beauty no one could ever dream of. "Hey, Sarah! You came!" She looked up at me and smiled, showed off her perfectly lined white teeth with the dimples on her cheeks going beautifully with her smile. "I wouldn't miss this for the world." I sat her down next to me as everyone is still chattering about in the house. I couldn't help but have my eyes locked on hers. It's like time has slowed down. Time stopped around us and it was just me and her. I wanted to kiss her, her lips had the light pink lipstick. She is so beautiful, just wish she didn't have a boyfriend. He doesn't treat her right, yet she's still with him. I've known her since the second grade, been close friends ever since. I have always liked her but just been too much of a coward to actually do something. "So how are you feeling turning the good 22?" The way she talks sounds like an angel has come down and sang me a song. "Just about the same when I turned every other year." She looked up and laughed silently. "How are you and Mike doing?" The sudden question I asked turned her face into a sad gloom, she turned her face more away from me and sighed. "Did something bad happened?" I asked her politely and she turned back at me, still not making eye contact to me. "We... We're doing ok... Just small arguments..." She paused a lot and I can tell the subject made her uncomfortable. A tear flowed from her cheek, I lightly slid my finger across to wipe the tear. "You know If you need a place for just tonight, to get your mind off things, you can stay here." She looked up as if I was her savior but faintly looked down. "I don't know... I feel like I should just go talk to him..." "Did you want me to go with you?" At that moment, she got a phone call. "Umm... give me a moment I'll be back." She walked away. I hate to see her like this. Kills me to see her broken down like this, she doesn't deserve that. She deserves better... so much better... "Enjoying the party?" the sudden hand grasps my shoulder lightly and sent me into a scarce where I jumped a bit. "Saw you and Sarah talking over here... things getting a crazy." I turned to see it was my brother Mark looking at me with a smirk. "uh... no.. not at all, But hey what's up?" "Well, we need to talk." Mark stared at me with an uncertain expression. "About what?" I replied. "Sarah..."