DAUGHTER

Chapter : 21

Time.
You can't see it but you can feel how fast it goes. When your mind is flooded with  Halcon and a few harrowing glimpse of past as well, you feel like it was the only thing yesterday.
Thousands of good memories in so little time but still you fear those bad ones.
It was hard, yes it was overwhelming. Even it felt like or should I say... it still sometimes feels like being back to the drawing board but at least with hindsight, I don't regret my decisions.

Today we're gonna celebrate Hope's 5th birthday. She loves butterscotch cake, just like her father. We've been teaching her a few things at home like alphabets, poems, colour recognition before she finally enters school next year and Hope is a really intelligent kid I must say, she's good at learning things quickly.

Mrs.Presley loves her so much, when I'm not home she becomes her real mother.
Things are so good right now but I miss Aakrit, yes I do but I read the letters he used to write to me when we were dating. He always loved writing letters.

Anyway, I'll bake her favourite cake until she's playing with Carina.

March 19, 2024
(Elsa Jones Anderson).

*Elsa closed her journal whilst smiling, she wasn't into writing a journal but after moving to Norway and learning new things she decided to put her thoughts into words to process things clearly.*

Okay, she speaks English but you know what she can speak Norwegian better than us *Mrs. Presley said while putting her hands on Elsa's shoulders*

Elsa looked at Mrs.Presley and smiled.

It's weird but I never really saw you using your full name, like just as you wrote Elsa Jones Anderson.*Mrs. Presley said*

Well, it was visible, I wasn't looking at your journal *Mrs. Presley said*

I won't mind even if you do *Elsa said while smiling*

I was Elsa Jones before marriage and back then when I and Aakrit were in our early twenties Aakrit used to call me Elsa Jones Anderson to tease me sometimes because I used to tell him that I will never marry him, you know to tease him *Elsa scoffed* good old days.

I always chose Elsa Anderson but I don't know, today... for some reasons I felt like writing that *She said and sighed while walking towards the window to see Hope playing in the garden with Carina*

You're missing him Elsa *Mrs. Anderson said*

Yeah *she sighed and turned toward Mrs.Presley*

But, today's my Daughter's birthday, let's make it special like always *She said happily and went downstairs with Mrs.Presley said*

Hope came running into the house while playing with Carina.

Run fast,  catch me *Carina said as Hope was chasing her while giggling*

Carina baby,  you do like butterscotch cake as well?  *Elsa asked her*

Yes tante I love it *Carina said and ran towards the kitchen counter to peek inside the bowl to look what Elsa was whisking*

Mom why do leave the tap open? I told you so many times that we should save water, I always see on Tv that how we are wasting things and that we should save it *little hope said angrily*

I was about to wash these spoons *Elsa said*

Then open it when you need it *Hope said while closing the tap*

Okay my little saviour, sometimes I feel like she's my mom *Elsa told Mrs. Presley and giggled*

Finally, everything was done. It was evening already. The Carlsen family was there, Mrs.Presley was there, a few of Elsa's neighbours were there with their kids.
Elsa came downstairs carrying Hope in her arms as she was looking like an angel in her white and red frock.

vakker!*Eva said while looking at Hope as she was about to cut the cake*

Ready angel?*Elsa said politely*

Wait, mom, you told me that dad lives up there in the stars, won't he come even on my birthday? To cut this cake with me? *Hope asked Elsa*

Elsa was numb for a while before she smiled at hope, kissed her forehead and said "he is choosing the best gift for his little saviour"

Arne and Eva looked at Elsa.

Alright then, I won't mind waiting, I'll cut the cake *Hope said and cut the cake while smiling*

Carina and rest of her friends sang a traditional Norwegian birthday song for Hope.

Elsa was looking at hope and being proud that she was becoming a bilingual already.
Even tho Elsa couldn't understand Norwegian properly, Hope was becoming a Native Norwegian speaker and an English speaker with a very unique accent that was a mix of Norwegian and American.

While Hope and her friends were having fun unwrapping the presents already, Eva asked Elsa for a moment.

Yes, Mrs.Carlsen? Anything you need? I hope you're enjoying the party? *Elsa asked her while smiling*

Jeg har det bra Elsa, Why are you lying to Hope?*She asked*

Lying? *Elsa asked her*

About your mann*Eva said*

Then what am I supposed to tell her? That her dad just disappeared? *Elsa said in a low voice not wanting to disturb others*

No, I'm just saying that but she'll grow up one day, and you're telling her false things, you get nervous when she asks you about her father, I've seen it many times and I saw that today as well *Eva said*

Mrs.Carlsen, I don't wanna tell her the truth, you know what happened today? she got angry when I left the water tap open for seconds and I've seen her getting upset over these things, I know it's good to save things but she acts like her father, she gets angry, she just can't tolerate these things.

One day I was throwing the rotten eggs in the bin and she got angry, she was like "you're wasting money and food". *Elsa said nervously*

She doesn't act like a 5-year-old kid when it comes to these things, I don't wanna say it but she behaves just like Aakrit, she just doesn't know the right words *resources*. Otherwise, she says and does similar things as him*Elsa said nervously*

Calm down Elsa, you're thinking too much, it's good for a kid to think about the things we have right now. She knows how important everything is and she doesn't like wasting it *Eva said*

If you'll continue panicking Elsa, then I'm afraid that she won't share anything with you in future. She'll start keeping every thought inside her head.
Keep her away from bad things but don't trap her inside your fears.
Think about it *Eva said*

Let's go and eat now *Eva said while putting her hands on Elsa's shoulders*

Finally, after a few hours, the party was over.

Elsa caress Hope to sleep and continued working on her laptop.

Mom?*Hope said*

You were not sleeping? *Elsa ruffled Hope's hair*

I was, but I couldn't stop thinking about dad*She said while looking at Elsa with doe eyes*
 
Elsa put the laptop away while turning on the sleep mode she lay beside Hope.

Your dad lives up there in the stars, you wanna know why? *she asked hope*

Umhmm*Hope hummed*

Because he's a superhero and he saves everyone up there, all the other stars *Elsa said while smiling*

Really mamma? *Hope said excitingly*

Then who's the superhero here? *Hope asked innocently*

It's... *Elsa said and paused while smiling*

It's my little Hope, my little saviour *Elsa said and started tickling hope*

Mom!! Stop... Stop*Hope said while giggling a lot*

And finally, Elsa was able to dodge the question again and make her fall asleep.
She knew it wasn't right but Elsa was ready to do anything to keep that smile on Hope's face.

Thank you so much for reading #SpreadLove
#RespectWhoDeservesIt
#NeverGiveUp <3 :). Love you all