Lu Ten had been going through the birthday box. The birthday box was a unique chest that the family kept holding items reserved for birthdays. In addition, each family member had their own photo album chronological of their birthdays. Lu Ten glanced through his photo album when he suddenly stopped, and his face broke out into pure disgust.

"Lu Ten? Where are you?" called out the sweet voice of his wife. He looked up before calling out, "I'm in the den, Ursa!" His beautiful wife gracefully entered the room and noticed what was in her husband's hands. She seemed a tad confused. "Lu Ten, why are you looking through your birthday album? Your next birthday is still two and a half weeks away. So why look through it right now?"

"I felt a bit nostalgic, to be honest. However, I was forced to remember my worst birthday ever. The one before we married."

"You mean when you turned twenty-one? That was about six months before we tied the knot. I wasn't there for all of it because of dealing with some wedding issues."

"Well, I'm pretty sure I told you all that transpired for the first half. But then, my mother's crazy cousin, whose always been obsessed with me, showed up in a wedding dress."

"Oh, dear Agni. I remember you telling me how horrified everyone was. She literally pranced over to you and tried to act like your bride."

"Her nonsense only got worse as the night wore on. I told someone off for making a disgusting joke about us being a happy couple. I spent half an hour in the men's room before Dad said I could come out. First, of course, we'd to get my mother's creepy cousin out of my seat at the table."

"You said she kept trying to sit in your lap wanting cuddles or trying to blow out your candle. Then tried to force you to dance with her. Before screaming, you were ruining her day."

"Then everyone had to shout out to her that it wasn't hers but mine. Not to mention the band called her a hag. And Mom put her foot down and told her cousin she wasn't going to sexually harasses me anymore, that she wasn't welcome, and stopped trying to turn me into her husband. That I was already engaged, and she needed to stop her behavior. Then she ran out of the tea shop like a girl dumped at the prom."

"If I recall correctly, your family filed a restraining order. Since I've never seen or heard of her again."

"Yep, the creepy cousin was disowned by the family. Like Uncle Ozai and his family. It certainly takes a lot before the family disowns and shuns members."

"However, when you cross unforgivable lines, that's the price you pay. Well, don't dwell on it, beloved. We'll have a much better birthday for you this year. And you won't have to worry about the likes of her or anyone else ruining your day. I promise."

"I trust you, Ursa," he patted the seat next to her. "Now, how about some early birthday kisses." "Oh, Lu Ten, you read my mind!" She cuddled up close to him so they could have a make-out session. Things were so perfect!


Who Decides What You Deserve?

What do you deserve? How does it make you feel saying aloud what you deserve? If you didn't care what others think, what might you deserve?

Is there or aren't their consistences in your answers? Choose to acknowledge that what you deserve is your decision. Regardless of what you decide, you're worthy of it!