18th Birthday

2 - "Stained Glass on a Winter Night"

Margaret laid down the ground, unconscious. Ian rushed towards her, shook her head and tried waking her up, “Auntie! Wake up, Auntie!”

His call somehow managed to bring Margaret back to her senses. She slowly opened her eyes, saw Ian’s struggle and wondered, “Oh dear~ did I just faint?”

He nodded and asked, “Yeah auntie. Are you alright?”

”I’m alright now”, she answered. He assisted her in standing up. Still dizzy after what happened, she asked him to keep the situation a secret. He wanted to disagree, but she insisted. So, Ian forcefully kept the situation to himself.

As Margaret managed to compose herself, she told him, “Come on, help me finished the preparations for the party later.”

Still doubting her condition, Ian reaffirmed, “Are you sure you’re fine auntie?”

To convince him that there’s nothing to worry about, she humorously said, “What are you saying Ian…I’m as energetic as I used to be in the good old days.”

With their conversation concluded, Ian placed the plates and utensils on the big round table while Auntie Margaret clothed the table with rosy red table clothing. A few minutes later, Evon arrived with a paper bag containing invitation cards. She happily approached Ian and handed out a silver imprinted invitation.

“Take this, Ian!” she said. Ian wondered what the invitation was for. Seeing him confused brought her to a sulking and muttered, “How can you forget your best friend’s birthday?”

Ian immediately recalled out of the pressure she gave and answered, “Oh right! How can I forget?” Then he laughed and thought, (Of course I remember. Every time I see Santa, he always reminds me of her birthday.)

Evon hit Ian’s head several times. He was hurt from all that beating and asked, “What’s that for?”

She pointed to what he was holding and said, “Look at your invitation.”

Ian read it and saw his name as Evon’s escort and 18th rose, and then she smiled mischievously and asked, “Make sure you gave me the best dance alright?”

Ian just nodded with a smile on his face. Later that day, evening came. The party for Margaret’s birthday started. Fantastic dishes were stylishly served on the buffet table. People enjoyed the food and the music suited the winter atmosphere. He looked at Evon as she enthusiastically talked with other guests. He thought, (She’s turning 18 yet she hasn’t changed a bit.)

She smiled at everyone she mingled with. Ian sighed and pondered on another thought, (I guess our friendship like this isn’t so bad at all. Actually, it’s good to see her smile like that.)

A few seconds later, she noticed him staring. She approached him with a surprisingly and heart achingly beautiful smile. On the other hand, Ian tried acting so calm as if he wasn’t staring at her.

“Ian!” she called and gave him a cheek-to-cheek greeting. Then, she asked, “How do I look in this dress?”

“It’s just the same as those other dresses.” He answered.

Evon felt a bit sad for what he said and talked back, “You sure don’t know how to make a woman happy!” then she tongue-taunted him. So, she decided to leave him and talked to other guests. As she walked gracefully away, Ian couldn’t help but secretly smiled.

“Man, what a pain~” he whispered. Evon’s father stepped on to the stage and tapped the microphone and tested it, “Mic-test~ is this thing on?”

The microphone screeched a bit, and then he started talking, “Oh~good evening ladies and gentlemen!”

The crowd’s voice faded to silence. He continued, “Here we are tonight to celebrate the 45th birthday of my beloved wife, Margaret.”

Everybody clapped their hands as his wife, Margaret, entered the stage. He stood up and raised his champagne glass and declared, “Let’s have a toast, for my wife to have a longer life.”

The crisp sounds of the clashing of champagne glasses were heard all around the garden, but then suddenly, a sound of a broken glass startles the crowd. Margaret lying on the ground caught everyone’s attention.

“MARGARET!” Fredrick shouted.

For the second time around, Margaret collapsed. This time, Ian’s shaking didn’t wake her up. Fredrick carried her on his arms and told his nearby assistant, “Driver! Start the car immediately.”

Ian assisted the family to the car. As the family driver immediately ignited the engine and stepped on the fuel accelerator. On their way to the hospital, Evon cried on Ian’s shoulder and asked, “What happened to mama?”

He was speechless and felt guilty for not telling everyone about Margaret’s first collapse, and then he thought, (If only I have told uncle about auntie, this wouldn’t happened)

As soon as they reached the hospital, Margaret was rushed inside the emergency room. Her family impatiently waited outside while Ian called his father on the phone. However, all he heard was, “This is a voice mail. Please leave a message after the tone.”

(He sure is busy right now…) he sighed. An hour later, a doctor came out from the emergency room. To Ian’s surprise, it was his father, Dr. Williams.

“Dad?” he muttered. The doctor adjusted his glasses to a better fit, saw his son and said, “Oh Ian. It’s rare to see you here.”

“More importantly dad how’s Auntie Margaret?” he added. The doctor pat on his son’s shoulders and told him, “I should be talking with her relatives first.”

Dr. William asked Fredrick to come talk with him. When the distance seemed far enough, Fredrick asked, “What happened to my wife, doc?”

“She’s suffering from heart failure. It’s when the heart fails to supply enough blood to the body”, explained the doctor. Coated with sudden fear, Fredrick added, “What can we do to save her?”

The doctor answered, “For now, I’ll be observing her vital signs. The next time this happens, she might have to undergo a heart transplant.”

Evon, who insisted on following them, eavesdropped on their conversation. Overwhelmed, she appeared from the back, burst into tears, and asked, “Will mama be alright?”

“Adequate rest and eating fruits could help lessen the risks.” said the doctor. Despite the suggestion given, Evon cried on her father’s shoulder. Then, Margaret was assigned to a deluxe room where the facilities are of the best quality. While they stayed on watch for Margaret, Ian talked with his father outside the room.

“She should have listened to her physician from her last check up.” complained Dr. Williams. Unsure about his suggestion, Ian reaffirmed, “Dad…What you said earlier… Will it really help?”

“There won’t be any problem unless that second time happens.” answered the doctor confidently. Ian was still dismayed and projected a thought, “If that happens, there won’t be much time left before Evon’s debut.”

“Following what I told should do the trick.” said the doctor. Ian sighed in frustration.