I woke up, and rubbed my eyes. My hair was a total mess. My eyelids were awful. Someone had opened the curtains while I was sleeping. The bright sunshine set it's rays on my bed. Outside we had a huge oak, and on it's branches I saw two big crows. I've always considered crows as a bad sign, especially in the morning. I tried not to notice the crows, and enjoy the sunshine.The bedroom door was slammed open. Adam and Madeleine ran into the room, jumped with excitement on our doublebed,and hugged me. "Happy Birthday mommy!, we made you some breakfast but it... umm.. it sort of.. yeah well we could order something?”
I laughed, and I was glad that I didn't have to discover what was my mysterious breakfast going to be.
Last year it was burnt omelette with pieces of legos in it. Though it was really crunchy, I wouldn't eat that again.
Adam has a curious and friendly personality, he's always trying to make everyone happy.
Failure is not a word in his world. Adam is only 5 years old, which is young compared to his two older sisters.
Madeleine is 11 years old. She is an hard working, social little girl. Atleast in my point of view.
Miradel is our first child. She's 15 now, and going through hard times. I have a lot of fights with her,
she doesn't seem to care about anything anymore. Miradel always locks herself in her room,
listens to music and doesn't come out except to eat, to school or to go to the toilet. I guess that's what teenagers are nowadays.
A couple of years ago, Miradel used to take extra good care of her siblings, now she canÂ’t be with them even in the same room for
an hour. Adam and Madeleine get along together pretty well though, so they donÂ’t actually need a Â’third wheelÂ’ while theyÂ’re playing their childish and noisy games. While the two of them are playing, Miradel is on the computer, as always, iÂ’m usually making dinner or drawing, and Jack is working down town. My husband, Jack, is the perfect man youÂ’ve always dreamed of. He helps at chores, he cooks and he just knows how to treat a woman. He works at this company that makes computer programs, but donÂ’t worry, my husband has a life.
I work at home. A few years ago, I decided that I need to spent more time with the kids, and my passion to drawing wonÂ’t
disappear if I work at home. So, I became an cartoon drawer, before that I used to draw sketches for the police. I did get paid quite well, but the kids are worth the loss, and IÂ’ve tried since then to get this mother daughter bond with Miradel again, but IÂ’m still failing at it.
SheÂ’s never home, so itÂ’s really hard to try and connect with a person whoÂ’s not there. Adam is a bit too much at home, but he canÂ’t help it that heÂ’s not in school yet. Madeleine is always home, except when sheÂ’s in school.
The children got off my bed, and ran down the stairs to continue their playing. I was just closing my eyes again, when Jack walks in the room, hugs me and congratulates me. ”Happy birthday darling. I’m going with Miradel to buy a present for you, Adam and Madeleine are going to the neighbors’ girl’s birthday party. Enjoy your day without the kids for a change. Here’s some breakfast, the kids made some too, but it is just not edible. So,get dressed when you feel like it, and see you at the mall. One o’clock sharp!”
Jack left the room, closed the door and went to get Miradel out of her room.
I got out of bed, yawned and stretched. The sunshine reminded me of my life years ago when I lived with my parents and started
dating Jack. Every Saturday morning he used to climb to my window, and knock to wake me up. We used to spend every Saturday
together, and we still do.
I heard the car engine start, Jack and Miradel were leaving. I guess Jack was dropping Madeleine and Adam off on the way.
I saw a huge present on my table, wrapped in red paper. It had an adorable card on top of it, but I thought I would look at it when I
come back from the mall. My watch said the time was already 11:45, I wouldnÂ’t dare to be late on my birthday.
I dressed my old jeans, and black T-shirt on, and added some jewelery. I combed my hair, brushed my teeth, and put my shoes on. The time was 12:30, I was in a rush.
I have my own car, actually Jack bought it for me when I turned 35. I grabbed my car keys from the kitchen table. I locked the front door, and kept saying to myself, ”Enjoy this day Arianna. It’s your birthday, and you should enjoy as much as you can. I drove to the mall and parked my car, and took my handbag with me. I waited for Jack and Miradel at the mall doors, we always meet there.
Nobody was there. ItÂ’s not like Jack to be late. I sat down on a bench, and waited impatiently for a while. I walked in the mall, and saw my worst nightmare. The floor was covered in blood. In the middle of the room, there were two bodies. I knew who they were.
I felt empty, I felt alone. The most horrible pain ever invaded me.
I walked slowly closer. I saw JackÂ’s and MiradelÂ’s bodies covered in blood, and then I remembered, the present at home! I ran to my car, started the engine, and drove home as soon as possible with tears in my eyes. I took the present, ripped the wrapping and I saw a box.
I opened it carefully, as if it was made of glass. It was full of pictures of me, Jack and our kids. There was also a beautiful dress. It’s black and white, thin straps and it’s really long. The card said, ”Dear Arianna, Happy 40th birthday! I love you, and the kids love you, and I hope this day is the best day of your life. <3: Jack”