COR

ge

n my face. Sitting up, I stretch, humming as my body come

et mated. I'm so ecstatic that it's nerve wracking. I wonde

the landing and take the flight of stairs till I'm at the bottom. I gig

g room for breakfast. The house is surprisingly quiet as I walk through, I don't see a single p

e wooden double door open, then bright lights from the morning sun

y birt

the lightly but cutely decorated room. At the far end of the dining, just over the fire place are colourful paper cut l

ets were showing and my best friend rushes

en!" She hoots, giggling as she

lls away and starts to drag me towards the table w

s deep voice. His hunky form towers over e

. Her smile is warm and gentle as always. It's always comforting being bles

mother,"

aps them with hers. "I can't believe my little flower's all grown

teen mother, not getting ma

hing then kisses my forehead before p

ng out of each other's embrace. I hear my father's deep chuckle before he comes up behind my mother, wrapping his arms

sent time." Ki

was odd because they've never missed this moment. Sometimes they're up before

ing perturbed and solely referring to

y said there was something they wanted to attend t

s. My brothers had always prioritized my birthday mornings more than anything else. It was od

f them, at t

d as well sweetie but they didn't exactly spare any de

how much my brothers' presence mean to me at times like these; they all knew. A

and the sudden quiet in the room was enou

uffs with a pout on her face. "You're going to open my present with or without them and I'm sure ther

ts me off with a pointed look, her a

the cutest face when she's vexed and nothing beats tha

She whines like a child, I could see the

"I know, I

on't be, just o

ght and wooden with intricate spiral design carved around the edges an

beaming down at me, she nods enthusiastically, gesturing for me to go ahead

less dress. The top is covered in faux fur and the skirt is long and a slit that ran down the side

ries my mouth o

rpiece. Do you like it?" Kiara ramb

t. It's very beautifu

like it." She

forgetting the absence of my three b

" Her laugh is contagious and

, you

gsong tone and swoops in with another box in hand, it's smaller

itedly. She drops the box in f

the lid of the box to reveal the i

with strong twigs and adorned with an onyx stone at the center. The opaq

ou lik

've remained speechless,

er earnestly. Picking it up, I replace the flower crow

the black stone rest on my forehead. I awe at my reflection in the mirror. "

covered in red velvet. "And this is for you, pearl." My father hands me

s into a deep amethyst purple at the bottom half. "It's so pretty." I pick it up

s, "Of course suns

above the swell of my bosom. The stone catches the sunlight and the glow pricked my brain an