Challenging a Cold Heart

Prologue 1: Abhorrent

10 years ago

Vincent's POV

"Mommy, are you sure my little brother has not been swapped with an alien? He looks really ugly." My brother Andrew said as he peered into my crib. Silence greeted those words. The room was filled with a somber mood as if something unfortunate had befallen the small family.

A female doctor in blue scrubs came in to check on me and asked whether our family wanted to take a picture with me when she was done with examining me. My mom nodded as she lay on the hospital bed. Little Andrew bounced up and down before quickly climbing in to bed beside our mother. The doctor took me from my crib and placed me on my mum's left arm. My father stood towards the right with Andrew in the middle. My mum hugged Andrew's body close to hers and my dad sat down on the corner of the bed hugging mum and Andrew. The video stilled like a picture as my mum, Andrew and dad smiled. And I..I was that ignored baby who had already fallen off my mother's arm which had in the last minute wrapped around my brother. That picture signified everything about our relationship.

It was my fifteenth birthday and just like every year after my tenth birthday we celebrated my birthday at home, privately. My parents told me it was because of my sudden bouts of sickness that made them stop giving me a party with friends. So, this was their idea of a celebration where our small family sat around in the living room and renewed our memories of my past birthdays. I don't know why they thought showing those videos would cheer me up. It always started with that sad day when I was born and everyone looked like they had the woes of the universe on their head.

I tried to smile and bear through the rest of the video. The second video was on my first birthday where Andrew ruined my cake by throwing a ball. On my second birthday, I was sick and there were no videos. On my third birthday my mum was trying to control a petulant Andrew who suddenly had a temper tantrum and threw my cake on the floor. On my fourth birthday, I vomited on my cake because I was sick. On my fifth birthday, I cut the cake before everyone finished singing "Happy Birthday" and ate it while everyone stared awkwardly at me. My mum chastised me for doing something so selfish. On my sixth birthday, one of the party guests sprained her ankle while playing musical chairs and the cake cutting had to be called off. On my seventh birthday, Andrew blasted a party popper right over my cake and ruined it. I had to cut the cake and throw it away. There was no eighth or ninth birthday because I was very unpredictably sick. On my tenth birthday, I stood by my cake, guarding it from Andrew and the day finished without anyone remembering I was waiting by my cake to cut it. The video stopped there and I looked at my parents.

My dad was busy reading some report and my mum was talking on the phone to someone. My older brother Andrew who was older than me by five years was discretely kissing his new girl friend's neck. I sighed sadly. I wasn't feeling well since morning and I wanted to cut the cake and finish the day as soon as possible. I hate my birthday. Nothing good ever happens on my birthday.

"Honey, I have to go to Copenhagen now. It's urgent. Please cut your brother's cake and look after him." My mum told my brother and then looked at me.

"And Vincent, eat your medicine and sleep. Don't trouble your brother. You are a big boy and should be able to do things on your own now. Call me if you need me but don't call in the morning. I will be busy." She said as she quickly pecked me on the cheek and went over to hug my brother.

My father also got a call suddenly and he left without so much as a look at the both of us. Suddenly I was alone with my brother and her girlfriend. I looked at the cake on the centre table. It was a small butter cake with white icing which said "Happy birthday Vincent."

My brother suddenly went over to the cake and cut it. I looked at him in disappointment as I stood up.

"Th-that's my cake." I sputtered, upset tears welling up in my eyes.