When Water Turns To Ice | REWRITE AVAILABLE

t w o | Surprise!

"Open this on your eighteenth birthday." That's what Nana said as she lay in her bed. She had handed me an envelope. I nodded, tears in my eyes as she turned away, hand clutching a picture of an old man with white hair.

So, on my eighteen birthday a year and a day after her death I opened the envelope. I took out the paper, I smiled when the familiar loopy cursive greeted me.

Dear Gwen,

Eighteen! I can't believe it! You're getting so big! I'm sorry I can't celebrate with you on your birthday but maybe I am there and you just don't see me.

I know my son has always been hard on you and your brother Gwen. You weren't meant to be following him around like a sheep your whole life, I know that. So when the time comes that you need to find your calling I have this riddle for you to follow.

It may not help you in the way you think. But after talking with an old friend of mine I thought this would lead you to where you need to be.

'Follow your heart to the city when water turns to ice, travel by storm to the eternal sacrifice. To the red tree of love and to the streams shore, only then will you find what you are truly looking for.'

Never look at the surface Gwen, let the true part of you show through as you always revealed when you were with me.

Love you forever,
Nana

*******

The letter was confusing to me. I didn't understand it. I tried to work it out as I snuck into the basement. It's walls were cold, dark cement. Drafts and only filled with a few old boxes.

I had always just painted in here. But as my fingers grasped a brush some,thing made me turn to the wall.

This room....this room was so dark and empty. That horrible feeling of sadness I had felt at the idea of having a birthday without Nana.

No, this was my birthday. Nana was all about having a special birthday where your dreams came true and everything seemed to be full of love and laughter.

So, instead of letting the bristles graze over the tough canvas I brushed it over the surface of the wall. I started out simple, grassy fields, flowers. But slowly it transitioned into a detailed mountain range with craggy cliffs and snowed tips that each end to the puffy clouds. At the base a stream was made-no a river. The water led the waterfall where the clear crystal liquid pitched into winter. The snow covered ground and a small fire that was lit in the frostiest of forests.

I had barely comprehended that I had spent the majority of my birthday in the basement. The once grey drab walls were now covered in a humongous mural that probably should've taken longer than a day, but somehow I had done it.

I stared in awe at the landscape I had created. Then I placed a small figure, in the bridge between summer and winter. Ankles dipped in the water.

I could practically hear my Nana's voice in my head.

"Just the right bit of creativity. With a small dash of spunk."

I stared at the faces I had created in the clouds. Just a small dash of spunk.

****

"Where were you all day?" Mom asked. We were seated at the dinner table. "I wanted to do some birthday celebrations and I couldn't find you."

I felt all eyes on me as I bit into the brisket. "Me and the girls went out celebrating."

Even if someone was smart enough to call my rowdy group of friends I knew they'd fake it and go along with the little white lie. They were good like that.

"Well, I made you a cake so we can still have a little bit of fun." Mom told me with a smile.

Riley smirked. "It tastes great too! A cheesecake with Oreo crumb crust."

I rounded on my brother. "You ate it?" I growled through gritted teeth.

Mom's eyes narrowed. But before I could strangle him my dad arrived, tossing the keys in the small bowl at the door he washed his hands and sat down.

"Sorry I'm late!" He chuckled. "Happy birthday Gwen, I didn't get to see you this morning, you were already gone!"

"Thanks." I reluctantly went back to my meal, not before sending Riley a deadly look he claims looks like a scrunched up mole-face. But moles can be intimidating.

After a semi-peaceful dinner. I totally didn't flick my peas at Riley. Mom got the cake out. Along with a child's favourite part. Presents!

  "Aw! Mom! Thank you!" I said with a smile as I flipped through the new journal she had gotten me.

  Riley's gift was a book titled: Why My Sister's Crazy. It was a novel but I still got the message but being the nice person I was I ignored it and only shoved his chair out from under him once. Finally it was dad.

  He handed me a large envelope. I gave him a curious look before unfolding the flap perfectly, I was a stickler for those things and pulling out the piece of paper.

  "It's a form to get you into the Ninjago School of Science." He said excitedly. "There's an amazing engineering course!"

  "I pulled a few strings and I managed to secure a place for you! What do you say?" Dad continued.

  "Wow..." I said nervously. "This is...wow."

  "We'll have to call the guy tomorrow, talk over a few things, yada yada yada, but isn't this exciting?" Dad smiled widely.

  "It's a surprise!" I faked excitement, carefully looking through it.

  Riley watched me carefully as I chewed on my lip as my dad talked happily with mom about what a great school it was.

But the thing is...

I wasn't sure if I wanted to go.