It was my sixth birthday, why is that important? Well maybe it isn't, but maybe it is.
You see, most kids have a party with all their friends, there's laughter and lots of energy. Some kids spend it with their families, grandparents and such.
I spent mine with my two favourite people in the world, my parents.
they are my best friends, not that I don't have any my own age, but I wanted to spend my day with them.
My dad is a very wise man, he's strict but caring. he has so many books in his study and one day I want to read them all.
My mother is beautiful, more than any other mum I have met, she makes the best food and loves to play with me, I hope I get to be as pretty as her one day.
All I wanted for my birthday was to get pizza with mum and dad. So that's where new were going. We laughed and talked about anything and everything and just as we entered the pizzeria, I noticed a woman in the back, she was pale, with light blond hair done up into a bun and braids framing the sides of her face. I must have been staring for too long as she waved to me and smiled, exiting a door meant for employees. I hoped she was our waitress so I could tell her how pretty she looked.
My mum held my hand up to the counter and dad ordered our pizzas and drinks, we found ourselves a booth by the window and I saw the woman outside, it had started to rain slightly and I put my hand to the glass to see if she would notice me and come back in from the rain. She turned and faced me but her smile was no longer there. She looked sad. My dad reached over and touched my arm and told me ints not polite to stare.
I sat back down and my mother played with my hair until our pizza came. My favourite. It's got everything and lots of it. My dad handed me a slice and I was so happy in that moment, to just be with them.
My dad had me bundled in his arms as we made our way back to the car, the rain just a little heavier than before, my mum stumbled with the keys and dropped them on the ground, she leant down to get them but was met with a stranger, the blond woman from the restaurant. Her hair soaked and sticking to the sides of her face and she still looked like an angel. She handed the keys back to my mother, smiled at me in my fathers arms and walked away into the dark rainy night.
My mother didn't say a word after that, she seemed different, scared even. My mother never seemed scared of anything, my father touched her shoulder and shocked her back into reality.
We got into the car before we got soaked any further, my dad placing me into the back seat and my mother reached back and tucked me in with her coat. Dad got into the drivers seat and we were off. The road was dark and wet so my dad took care not to speed around corners, mum was humming a song for me to fall asleep but the rain was just too heavy. The wind was howling and the trees around us looked evil.
I will never forget the lights, coming towards us, the wrong side of the road, a truck, a crash, a scream and then, nothing.
I remember glass shattering, being so scared and not knowing where mum and dad were.
Then, another light. Not like the one that made us crash, a warm, peaceful light. I looked around and mum wasn't moving, neither was dad. I hurt everywhere and I tasted an awful copper in my mouth, like I had put coins into my mouth. I smelt it too, everywhere, I tried to call out to someone, anyone, but I couldn't get my voice out. Not over the rain, or the steam from the crash, the wind or my sobs.
I turned back towards the warm light for help, but it was motionless, I closed my eyes hoping this was just the worst dream ever, only to open them and everything was still the same.
The light was inside the car with me now and I couldn't keep my eyes open. Too bright, and even though I hurt all over, even though my parents weren't moving, I felt safe, I was going to be okay.
I heard voices, like maybe someone had found us and was getting help, I heard cries and yelling and before everything went dark, I heard a voice, not one I knew, but one I trusted, "Happy Birthday Faith"