My Light

Happy Birthday, Caroline!

Hello everyone! I hope everybody is enjoying their summer! Or whatever season when you're reading this chapter haha. As always, thank you for your sweet thoughts! I hope you enjoy this chapter!!

-8-

Chapter 11: Happy Birthday Caroline!

It was a Saturday morning and Caroline was lying quite miserably on her bed, staring at the ceiling once again. Today was her eighteenth birthday – the day when she would become an official adult. The time where you can legally go off on your own and pretty much do anything you want. It's supposed to be the best year of your life or so they say. If it was supposed to be the best year then why does she still feel like crap?

She took a deep breath and tightly closed her eyes as tears silently flowed down from it. More and more each day she was losing herself to the burden that's weighing down her heart, and the depression is taking a toll on her. She needed something or someone that could save her otherwise, the time she could bear no more is coming soon . . . very soon.

Caroline looked up at the sound of her doorknob jiggling, but the door wouldn't open. She wanted to be alone this morning and simply locked the door, wallowing in her own self-pity. It was no surprise that her mom came knocking on her bedroom door, wanting to wish her a happy birthday like she always did every year.

"Caroline? Can you open the door sweetie?" Her mom asked innocently.

"No, mom, I know that once I open the door you will surprise me with cake and flowers, wishing me a happy birthday and telling me to go out there and live my life," Caroline sighed. "Seriously, I just want to stay in bed." Caroline threw her arm over her eyes and sniffled. She could picture her mom pouting on the other side.

"Aw, well, could you at least come out so you can blow out your candles?"

Caroline groaned. What part of staying in bed does her mother not get? She reluctantly got out of her bed and made her way across her room. It was the least she could do for her mom for trying to make it up to her all these years.

When Caroline wiped away the tears, she opened the door and was attacked with confetti and blow horns. Liz, Sheila, Elena, Jeremy, and Bonnie were standing in front of her bedroom holding a cake along with party balloons. This really surprised Caroline—usually she would get birthday surprises somewhere else rather than the front of her room.

"Wha–" she whispered breathlessly.

"Surprised? You should be!" Elena exclaimed. Clearly, she was the one who planned all this.

"What is this?" Caroline was still shocked by the surprise her friends gave her.

"Well, it's not fair that you're not throwing yourself a party, sooo we decided to throw you one!" Elena smiled brightly at her.

Caroline's face showed horror when she broke the news. She couldn't believe it, after promising not to throw a party they threw her one anyway. She took a deep breath and calmly spoke through her teeth, "I. Told. You. To. NOT. Throw me a birthday party, Elena!"

"Pish, posh. Everyone wants a party on their birthday, even if they won't admit it to themselves, they still at least want some kind of celebration." Elena said.

"That may be true, but I've been having a celebration every year just like everybody else. I just want one year to myself and it just makes me feel bad for those who don't have any birthday celebrations with others." She crossed her arms.

Jeremy slid his arm around Caroline's shoulder. "Which is why you should have this small celebration." He tried to convince her. "Do it as a favor to those who can't have it." He smiled softly at her hoping to placate the situation.