So this story isn't getting the reception I thought it would, people said they would read it and it doesn't look like they are, it's fine, but because of the dwindling number of reviews it's going to come to an end, either this chapter or the next, I'll tell you at the end of this chapter, SO READ THE AUTHOR'S NOTE AT THE END.
I looking forward to writing my next story, Little Mummy, which has a summary on my profile.
Life Changing
June fourteenth.
Today's date…Jasmine's birthday…her thirteenth birthday to be exact.
Everyone looks forward to becoming a teenager, it's that one step closer to becoming an adult, but for Jasmine, it's been one more year that Jessica has missed out on.
Jasmine would always love Gabriella with all of her heart, but there was no straying away from the fact that Jessica would always be her birth Mum, a Mum that Jasmine never got to meet, a Mum that never got to watch her daughter grow up.
Just before Jasmine had turned nine, her and Gabriella had sat down and had a one to one chat. Gabriella wanted her to know, that despite the fact Jasmine called her Mum everyday, she was in no way trying to replace Jessica. She understood completely, that although Jasmine had never met Jessica, she would always be the young girl's Mum and Jasmine had every right in the world to call her that. It didn't matter that she wasn't around, if Jasmine wanted to refer to her, she should call her Mum, not Jessica, because rightfully, lawfully, Jessica would always be her Mum and there was no way on earth, that anyone would ever try to change that.
Both had been in tears by the end of the conversation and Troy had walked in rather confused, but he knew better than to ask questions. He simply plonked himself down in the middle of them and let them cry against him, until one of them found the right words to say.
It was Jasmine who broke the silence; she told Gabriella, and Troy, that she would refer to Jessica as Mum because that name was rightfully hers, but that wouldn't stop her calling Gabriella Mum, she had earned that name and nothing was going to change that.
Every year when June fourteenth was approaching, Jasmine's mood would noticeably change. She'd go back into her shell and only a few people, the people who loved her and cared about her knew why. June fourteenth wasn't just Jasmine's birthday; it was the anniversary of Jessica's death and that was the reason why Jasmine was awake at half past seven, on a Saturday morning, on her birthday.
She didn't want to go and wake up her parents. Gabriella had picked up a horrible cold and had been stuck in bed for days, she was now on the mend though and Jasmine didn't want to wake her up while she was sleeping, she still needed all of the sleep she could get, her body was still recovering. She thought about just waking up Troy, but they always slept all tangled together and inevitably she'd still disturb Gabriella.
She'd considered phoning Ethan, but it was half past seven on Saturday morning, there was no way he was going to be awake or anywhere near a light enough sleep to even hear his phone going off, let alone answer it.
She could phone Maria, she'd answer the phone, but then Troy and Gabriella would find out and she didn't want that, not yet, they needed to sleep, so instead, she went to the next best people she could think of, Michael and Mitchell.
She didn't think they'd be awake yet, but that didn't matter, they could make her smile even when they slept, but as she approached their room, she could hear their babbling, apparently they were awake.
As she stepped into the room, the view that she was met with brought tears to her eyes and a smile to her lips. Her brothers were both sitting up in their cots, facing each other, playing with their cuddly toys, the bears she'd given them when they were newborns. They were both completely attached to their bears, they went everywhere with them and it made Jasmine feel like it was their way of saying 'I love you', even though they couldn't actually say it yet.
"Hey guys, you're awake," Jasmine's voice alerted the boys to her presence and they both immediately tried reaching for her. "Is this you trying to tell me you want to get up?" Jasmine moved so that she was kneeling in between the cots and was able to stick her fingers through the bars and tickle the boy's feet. They both laughed loudly and tried to throw their bears at Jasmine through the bars of their cots. "Alright, alright I get the message, we'll go downstairs, just let me change you both first." Mitchell was first; he was the easiest to change or dress because he would stay still, within reason, and let you get on with it, unlike Michael who liked to roll about as much as remotely possible, making the whole process take twice as long as it should.
Fifteen minutes later, the boys had both been changed and were being carried downstairs by Jasmine, who stopped as she reached the living room doorway because it seemed that Troy had decorated it last night before going to bed. There were pink and silver streamers handing off of photo frames, pink and silver balloons with 'Happy 13th Birthday' on them and big pink and silver banners with 'Happy 13th Birthday' on them, Troy really had pulled out all of the stops.
"I don't think I'm supposed to be seeing this yet guys, but never mind, I've seen it now," the boys babbled back an answer and wiggled in Jasmine's arms to be put down, so she stepped into the lounge and sat down on the floor with them, letting them pull some of their toys out of the boxes to make her play with them, she needed the distraction and the twins were perfect at it.
TGTGTGTG
"You weren't supposed to see all of this yet." An hour or so later and Jasmine turned her head to see Troy standing in the doorway in his pyjamas, his hair still ruffled from sleep.
"Yeah I figured that when I came down, but I'd seen it by then so there was no point in pretending I hadn't and these two wanted to play and wasn't gonna deny them that." Troy chuckled as he walked over to his children and joined them on the floor, leaning against the couch like Jasmine as the boys happily played together.
"How long have you been up sweetheart?" Troy knew it wouldn't have been the boys who woke Jasmine up, not today.
"I woke up about seven and went through to see these two about half past, we came down here once I'd changed them…I miss her Dad, she should be here today."
Troy sighed as he pulled Jasmine into a hug. "I know she should sweetheart and I'm sorry that she isn't, but look at it this way we've got Gabriella and Michael and Mitchell, I think that's just as amazing."
"Yeah Dad it is, is Mum okay?"
"Yeah, she's up and everything, she just wanted us to have a minute or two together before she came down, she'll be down in a few."
And Gabriella was, down in a few, and so presents were opened and a few tears were shed, but quickly wiped away and the twins were soon covered in wrapped paper. Breakfast was chocolate chip pancakes and as much syrup as Troy could fit on and then the real fun began, preparing for the party.
TGTGTGTG
It wasn't a big party, only the Bolton's, Maria and the Kean's were invited, but to Jasmine it was still a party. She and Ethan had grown increasingly close since their kiss in May and although they weren't in a relationship yet, they'd decided they were still too young for that, they had shared more kisses and tighter hugs, with public hand holding thrown in. I guess, really, they were in a relationship, they just didn't want to admit it, or tell Troy, he'd become like a Dad to Ethan and he didn't want to ruin the trust he'd gained from Troy, his daughter meant to much to him to do that.
Summer had become increasingly fond of Maria and has been spending the odd night with her, giving Miranda time to be with Ethan, or if he was with Jasmine, get some much deserved time to herself.
"Alright people, cake time," Troy's announcement made the lounge go quiet, until Summer walked in with the cake, guided by Gabriella and…
"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Jasmine, happy birthday to you!"Jasmine smiled as Troy took a picture and then held her hair out of the way before blowing out the candles and taking the cake from Summer so she could have a proper look. The cake seemed to follow the days' theme, with silver marzipan all over and then 'Happy 13th Birthday Jazzy' written on in pink icing.
"It's really lovely, thank you so much Miranda." When Miranda had asked Gabriella what she should get Jasmine for her birthday, Gabriella had run out of ideas, but having heard of her baking skills asked her if she'd make the cake. Miranda had been more than happy to put her skill to use and so after receiving a design from Gabriella the cake had come to life.
"It's no problem at all sweetheart; I'm glad I could make it for you and that you like it."
"Can we eat it now please?" Troy asked, sounding life a small child. "I don't care how pretty it looks, which is very Miranda, but I really want to eat it." Gabriella tapped Troy round the back of the head for being rude, but still allowed him to take the cake through to the kitchen to cut it into pieces.
As the party came to an end Jasmine realised that as much as she missed Jessica and wished she was here, she knew, that in spirit, Jessica, her Mum, would always be there.
TGTGTGTG
Life is filled with life changing events, I bet one happened to you today.
Troy had never expected his life to change so dramatically at such a young age, but it had and he would never change that, even if it did mean Jessica passing away. When he held Jasmine in his arms for the first time, he knew his life would never be the same again.
Gabriella knew from the day Troy comforted her in the library, her life was about to become interesting and when Jasmine asked her to be her Mum, she knew it was a life changing event.
Long story short, your everyday life is filled with life changing events, those little things that happen everyday that mean your life will never be the same again. Like when you become a big brother or sister, or even a Mum or Dad. Like when you have an operation, big or small, it's life changing.
Like when I self harmed, that changed my life, because I'm scarred or like when I made the decision to talk to someone about why I self harmed again.
Life is one big changing event, good or bad, things you do everyday change your life. Take what you want from this story, it doesn't matter to me, but promise me one thing?
Live your life to the full and let everyday be Life Changing…Again.
TGTGTGTG
It was short and sweet, but it is the end guys, sorry.
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE REVIEW! THANK YOU!
I'm sorry