His Rebound

Chapter 22

"My girl looks like a princess today." Marie said while doing the hairs of Katherine on her 6th birthday. The little girl blushed hearing compliments and tried to suppress her excitement for the day.

"When will Dad and Ken come?" She asked making Marie stop.

It was Katherine's 6th birthday and surprising it was her first time celebrating and infact cutting the cake. Marie was shocked when she came to know that Katherine never had the chance to celebrate her birthday, so she decided to throw a small party at her dorms for Katherine. She was the youngest girl in the dorms and nobody liked her but Marie had given instructions to every one of behaving well. She was like her daughter and she never differentiated between her own kids and Katherine.

Hearing about the party made Katherine excited but she was more excited about the fact that her father and brother would be coming too as told to her by Marie's son. Everyone at the dorms was excited for the party and Marie's kids tried their best to make Katherine feel better but the little did she knew her father had declined Marie's request of visiting Seattle and Marie still didn't had the heart to tell her the truth.

"Their flight is delayed but they will come."

"Okay...I'll wait for them then."

And that wait never came to an end. The party started and every kid was getting impatient. Everyone was waiting for Katherine to cut the cake but she didn't because she was waiting for her parents. Marie's kids who especially came to the dorms to celebrate Katherine's birthday tried to persuade her for cutting the cake but she was adamant.

She wanted her family.

Isn't she supposed to be feeding the first piece to her Dad, and then her Dad will feed her and then Ken will smear cake on her face.

That's what happens on birthday and in her mind, Katherine had already visualized everything but how it will all happen unless her family shows up.

Eventually, the girls started leaving and they weren't much happy about the uncelebrated birthday party. The cake wasn't cut and the gifts weren't given. They all blamed Katherine and her arrogance for it. Everyone believed she was the spoiled little brat who is just trying to seek attention with her ways but no one knew what the little girl was going through without her family. Locked up in her room, Katherine cried her heart out that night, tried to call her father a thousand times but no one answered her call. No one even wished her a simple Happy Birthday.

This feeling was dejection and abandonment wasn't new to her little heart but every time it hurts more than the last time.

But maybe this time when she is here in New York after so many years, things would be different.

As usual, I once again defeated my alarm clock by waking up before 5. I dreamt the things I had buried deep down in my memory lane and didn't want to think of but somehow it resurfaced.But I know this birthday is going to be a different one.

A happier one...

A one with no tears and no loneliness.

I was excited but also a little disappointed when I checked my phone. There weren't any call or messages from anyone. I tell myself it's just a birthday but I don't know why it hurts little, always.

I took my mother's pendant in my hand and bought it closer to my lips.

"I love you Mom." I kissed her feeling a whirlwind of emotions.

It's my birthday and my Mum's death anniversary. My mum died while giving birth to me and I couldn't be more unfortunate than this. I had spent my 21 birthday without her and although I hadn't seen her, I miss her. More than anyone could imagine. I wiped the tears of my eyes and went in the washroom to give myself a sweet bath. After a long shower and taking out my new dress which Chloe gifted me for my last birthday, I got dressed. I took out the gift Hayden gave me on the airport and kept it on my desk. My hands have been itching to open it but I never got the chance. I was so busy with this whole wedding stuff that I forgot and maybe it was a good thing otherwise I wouldn't have been able to keep them wrapped safely. I was about to get my hands on the Chloe gift when my phone rang and I quickly reached over to answer.