The Night of the Gift

As I woke on the day of my sixteenth birthday, I felt like the world stood still for a couple of minutes. It was so peaceful in my room, but all that changed as I heard my mom yell that breakfast was ready, which she never makes, but it was a special occasion. I got dressed and hopped downstairs eating before getting my school stuff and heading out to wait for the bus. I stood there shivering a bit, my breath visible like smoke. I looked across the road as the bus was coming to a stop and I caught a glimpse of a figure with a huge hat on, mostly all black. I figured it was just one of our old neighbors bundled up to put their mail in the mailbox.

As I got on the bus the figure wasn't on the other side.I shrugged it off and sat in my regular seat, by myself. Once I got to school my best friend, Miranda, came over to say a soft happy birthday to me while giving me a wrapped present.

"Boy I wonder what this is.." I said nonchalantly because my other friend, Evelynn, might have given away what Miranda got me last week.

Miranda watched as I ripped it open and revealed a small stuffed Stitch from the Disney movie. I smiled and said thank you, and tried to act totally surprised to what she got me. As the day went on it was filled with happy birthdays from people who I barely talk to anymore,then finally the day was over with. I hauled my huge backpack onto the bus and sat down sighing and looking out the window sadly. It didn't feel like my birthday and it still felt like the world wasn't spinning. Why did it feel so weird? As I got off the bus, I walked across the highway in front of my house, my mind blurred from thinking about all the homework I have. When I walked into the street I suddenly saw a car to my left coming towards me, for a split second my heart exploded and I froze, staring at the car. A force from behind me grabbed my bag and sent me flying backwards onto the concrete, the car honking its horn as it passed me. I looked around to find no one there. Who just saved me?

As I walked inside, shaking from shock and not from the cold, no one was home. Turns out my family all had to work on my birthday, and using a vacation day was unheard of. I put down my bag and sat on the couch feeling so tired once my adrenaline from my near death experience died down. I decided that my birthday gift to myself is a nap, I walked upstairs to my room and shut my door getting in bed and laid there trying to figure out what exactly happened outside.

I fell asleep quicker than expected and stayed asleep longer than I thought I would. When I woke up my room was dark and only the street light snuck in through my window. Looking around I slowly sat up and stopped dead in my tracks as I saw an outline of a figure at the foot of my bed. My eyes couldn't exactly make out the shape but I felt an object there and the heat radiating from it. I shook as I sat there ready to scream but it called out to me in a low voice "Don't be afraid, I am here for your protection".