Aether

Chapter Six

Song: Pretty Girl - Maggie Lindemann (Cheat Codes X CADE Remix)

It's my birthday.

I'm not sure why, but I expected to feel different.

Maybe because of how much changes now that I'm eighteen. I'm legally an adult, and I've graduated high school. I can drink, gamble, and go to bars and clubs.

And yet, I feel exactly the same as I did yesterday.

Of course you do, I tell myself. Age is just a number.

As I make my way to the kitchen, I can't help wondering what Mum has gotten me for my birthday and graduation.

I know that a typical present is a car, but I've already got one. Another common gift is a world trip, but we've already discussed our financial plans, and I highly doubt Mum would waste the money on a world trip for me if she barely has the money to keep our house.

I enter the kitchen where my mother sits at the table with two plates of pancakes and different toppings scattered around. On my place setting is a small wrapped present - the height, length and width of my hand - and an even smaller jewellery box, waiting for me to open them.

"Happy birthday, sweetie," Mum tells me as I sit down.

"Yum, pancakes," I say, my mouth-watering at the smell of the plate before me.

However, I bypass the pancakes and instead reach for my first gift - the larger box. I rip open the paper around it and pull open the box, revealing a snow globe.

"That's your graduation present," Mum says as I pull it out. "I thought that even if you don't go away to university, you might like something to remind you of this house if we sell it."

Inside the snow globe is our house. It's a perfect replica, and I can even see my car parked out the front. Two small figures - a blonde haired girl and a brunette woman - stand on the front step.

"This is us," I conclude, grinning in awe. "This is amazing! Thank you so much, Mum."

I hug her over the table, knowing that if I go away it will be exactly what I need to remind me of her.

Now more excited than ever, I open the second gift, revealing a diamond belly ring.

"But I don't have my belly pierced," I remind Mum. She's never let me get any piercings other than my earlobes, telling me I have to wait until I'm an adult.

"I know you don't," she replies. I frown. "That's why we're going to get it done today."

I jump up and throw myself on her, kissing her profusely on the cheek.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

"Now, eat your breakfast. We have a lot to do today."

After I get my belly pierced - it looks amazing - my mother and I start setting up the house for my party. It takes several hours for us to put up the two marquees outside, and then to set up the speakers. Once we finish with the lights and balloons and everything else, it's already six pm, and the party starts at seven. Mum leaves to pick up the cake while I head for the shower, sweaty from hanging all of the lights.

When I undress and spot a fifth mark between my shoulders, I swear. I've no doubt it has something to do with what happened when Britney tried to drop me, because I've never had reflexes that fast. This mark is a circle filled with several swirling lines, almost like waves of air.

Sighing, I just get in the shower, trying to forget the impossible nature of my entire back.

After I curl my hair, put on makeup and get dressed into a tight black dress, I have no time to worry about my marks, because there's the sound of the doorbell ringing.