Alexus's Point of View

I kept wondering what Mama could have written to Papa, but he remained silent on the matter, promising that he would tell me soon. Then, the day came when he said he would tell me. Papa came to my room to wake me. "Alexus, it's time to get up, dear," Papa said softly.

My eyes fluttered open, and I smiled. "Good morning, Papa," I greeted.

"Happy birthday," Papa said.

I sat upright. "What?" I asked.

"Happy birthday," Papa repeated.

"It's my birthday?" I gasped.

"It's your birthday, my darling," Papa replied.

I was momentarily excited, but then my smile fell. "Mama won't be here. I celebrate all my birthdays with her."

"I know you do. I will never be able to replace your mother, but I hope you will accept celebrating your birthday with me instead," Papa said.

"Of course, I will. Even though I miss Mama, I'm glad I can spend my birthdays with you now. What are we going to do, Papa?" I wondered.

"It is a surprise. I'll take you to it. Get ready. I'll be waiting outside." Papa went outside my room and shut the door. I put on my coat and brushed my hair before joining him.

Papa opened a dark corridor, and we went through it. On the other side, Aunt Myka, Aunt Dulcie, Aunt Bess, and Joe were sitting on a picnic blanket alongside a spread of food. "You're all here?! This is amazing!" I smiled.

Joe turned to me with a big grin and hugged me. "Alexus! Happy birthday."

"Thank you. I'm so glad you can be here," I mentioned.

"Come on and eat. Aunt Dulcie made everything, so it's all really delicious. Not as delicious as back home, though. She had to use ingredients from here since we couldn't take our food with us," Joe prompted. My smile faltered as he called the other place his home, but I let it go.

Papa began conversing with Aunt Myka while I ate and talked with Joe. He kept talking about how great his new home, Pixie Hollow, was. He had wings and could fly, and he was a scout-talent fairy. He rambled on and on until I couldn't take it anymore. I was hurt that Joe's new life seemed so much better in Pixie Hollow than with me, to the point where I wanted him to feel what I was feeling.

"That's nothing. I live in a floating castle with my papa and his employees. It's so amazing," I boasted.

Joe's smile fell. "You're calling him your papa now?"

I relished the hurt in his eyes. "Of course. That's what he is. I've moved on from this place. Now I have a new home, family, and friends."

"Well, sure, but we're still friends. It's not like you have a lot of history with them," Joe commented.

"Sure, but I don't think we'll see each other after this. This is just a special, one-time event, is it not?" I brought up.

"I suppose you're right. This is probably the last time we'll see each other," Joe realized. He was mostly quiet after that, and I didn't put much effort into conversing with him.

When day turned to night, the woman who took Joe, Aunt Myka, Aunt Dulcie, and Aunt Bess back last time, Ms. Prilla, appeared. "Are you ready to go back?"

"I'm ready," Joe said immediately.

I hugged my aunts and told them I loved them, and I hugged Joe goodbye bitterly before they left. Papa opened a dark corridor and took me back to my room. "Did you enjoy yourself, Alexus?"

"Yes. Thank you, Papa," I lied.

"Your mother is the one to thank. She made the plans before she died," Papa explained.

"Even now, she's looking out for me," I smiled. I let out a yawn.

"Are you tired?" Papa wondered.

"Yes," I answered. Papa took me to my room and tucked me into bed before turning the light off.

"Goodnight, Alexus. Happy birthday."

"Goodnight, Papa."

When Papa left, I tried to go to sleep, but I couldn't. My regrets kept me up. It had felt good to make Joe suffer in the moment, but I was sad that I wasted my one opportunity to see him again. I felt terrible and began to cry.

When Papa came to check on me, he found me sobbing and curled up in a fetal position. "Alexus?" He rushed to my side. "Are you hurt?"

"No." My voice was barely more than a whisper, hoarse from all the crying.

"What's the matter? Are you sad that your mother couldn't be here?"

"Yes." I was too ashamed to tell him the truth.

"I see. Is there anything I can do to help?"

"No thank you, Papa."

"Alright then. I will allow you some time alone." Papa started to leave.

As he was leaving, a part of me realized that if I didn't speak up, I would be miserable all night. I didn't know if Papa could help, but if it were Mama, she would know what to do, and since I had Papa instead of Mama, I needed him. "Papa?" I spoke up. Papa stopped near the door and turned to me. "It's actually not true. What I told you about being sad about Mama. I mean, I am sad about her, but that's not why I was crying."