The Wishing Flower

Chapter 7

I fumbled through my bag to find my keys that decided to find a comfy spot at the bottom of my bag underneath all the junk. Finally I got inside and kicked off my shoes before throwing myself onto the living room couch. Every single muscle in my body ached from serving people all-day and my feet were swollen and throbbing. At least Alex didn't come in today, that would've made things even more stressful. Why were there so many people at the restaurant today, anyways ? Was it a holiday? I checked my phone. Nope, today was just a regular Tuesday.

You really lose track of everything when you're living alone. I can't tell the days apart, sometimes I forgot whether it was day or night. You always need that someone who will tell you what day it is, when you can't find your phone or who will tell you the time when you're running late because you can't find your shirt. I didn't have a person I could rely on, anymore. I had no one, no one at all. I looked up at the blank ceiling and thought back to the two women who I served earlier at the restaurant. They were sisters.

After finishing their meals, one of the girls excused herself for the bathroom, but instead of going to the ladies' room she came to me as I stood beside the kitchen. "Today's my older sister's birthday" she said in a whisper, pointing back to the table where her sister sat patiently waiting for her to return. "She also just lost her job yesterday, so I wanted to do a little something special for her. You know to get her mind off of things", she told me excitedly. It was cute, one sister being all jumpy and excited to surprise her other sister. Happiness is a good look on people.She requested us to bring in a chocolate ganache cake and sing happy birthday for her, she had even bought sparklers for us to put on the cake.

"Here Zee, let's light the sparklers", Lacey said as I balanced the cake with two hands. She turned on the lighters, and the sparklers lit up. The sparks flew up from the chocolate cake, lighting up the room.

"Okay. On the three. Happy Birthday to you..", we came singing to the unsuspecting birthday girl. Happy Birthday dear Kalani. Happy Birthday to you", everyone in the restaurant clapped for the birthday girl as she clasped her hand over her mouth. The birthday girl turned to her younger sister in surprise, both their eeys were filled with warmth and love.

"Kalani. I know this isn't much and it's nothing close to what you'd call a birthday party, but you have been with me for all twenty five years of my life. You stuck by me no matter how deep I fell, no matter where I went I knew if I turned around you would be standing there watching over me", both sisters had tears in their eyes.

The younger sister choked up as she spoke through the tears "you are more than just my sister, you are my best friend. And I swear I will always be there for you, the way you were there for me. So don't keep your worries to yourself, because I will always be there to help share the burden. I love you Kalani."

Kalani was so moved that she threw her head down and sobbed into her own hands. Her sister came over the table and held her sister as she cried.

"I love you, sis", she said again.

"I l-love you too", she was finally able to say in between sobs.

I felt my body as it became heavier and sank deeper into the couch as the moments passed by. My eyes didn't leave the ceiling, because there was nothing else to look at. I was really all alone Where was my sister? Why wasn't she there for me when I needed her the most like the two girls at the restaurant? Why did she have to disappear at a time when I really just wanted a shoulder to cry on?

I felt my throat close up as I thought of my lost sister, Sajal. She was only one to play Barbies with me when I had no friends to play with. She was the only one to ever sleep by my side when I was afraid and wanted to crawl in between my parents and lie with them, but couldn't. She was the only one who has ever wiped my tears off my face the nights I cried for my mom to come back from work, but she never did. Now there was no one to wipe my tears as they rolled down my cheeks. There was no one to stop the sobs as they escaped the throat. No one to hug me and make the sadness go away. I lifted myself off the couch, and walked to Sajal's closet, my body shaking as I cried. I looked at her clothes, everything just the way she left it. Like she was still here.