"You're joking, right?" Celia asked. "You know how much we always look forward to it. How Mother will always sit us down and plan with us. We were unable to do that last year. Do you think Mom will be happy if we do the same this year?" Celia asked and Rhea rolled her eyes, trying to hold back the tears threatening to fall.
"She's dead, Celia. There's no point celebrating it."
Her dad stood up. "Rhea, I know how painful her death is to you, but that doesn't stop you from celebrating your birthday."
Rhea blinked the tears that had already gathered in her eyes. "She's dead, Dad. It isn't worth celebrating."
Her dad sighed, "Rhea, go to school, okay? We will talk when you get back. Have a great day at school."
Rhea wiped the tears from her eyes. "Bye, Dad. Bye, Celia."
She had a lot of thoughts going on through her mind as she walked down to school. All she wished for was for everyone not to say anything about her birthday. She got to school and headed to her locker.
She was in front of it, trying to pick up a few things before heading to class, when the door closed drastically, hitting her hard in the face.
She whined in pain. "Hey, nerd!!" A voice called.
It was the voice she had always dreaded to hear. The voice that belonged to her best bully, Sasha. Rhea still wonders why she gets to bully her always. Sasha hit the locker aggressively, jolting Rhea back to reality.
"Are you now dumb?" she asked.
"W-what... w-what... What did you say?" Rhea's voice trembled vigorously.
Sasha scoffed. "You're such a dumbass."
"What do you want, Sasha? It's Monday morning, and I don't want any trouble," she managed to say.
Did you just call me a troublemaker?"
"No. I..."
"Just shut the hell up and take this. I want it done now!!" She handed over her biology notebook to Rhea. "If anyone finds out, I'll kill you."
"But..." Sasha glared at her and she quickly took the book from her.
"You have twenty minutes to finish up. Did you hear me?"
"Y-yes"
Sasha hissed and walked away. Rhea sighed. Her Monday morning is taking the wrong turn already and she doesn't like that.
"Hey, nerdy," someone called, and she turned to see Dahlia, standing close to her locker and holding a book.
Dahlia ain't here to hand over her assignment to her. Is she? Rhea thought.
"Enough of the thinking. Take this and do it," Dahlia said, and she groaned. Just like she had thought. "Take now."
She quickly took it from Dahlia and went into the class to get them done before Louie showed up. When she was done, she returned their books to them and was on her way back to her seat when Louie entered the class.
"Hey, babe," he cooed, and she smiled.
Her giver of joy is finally here and she can smile as much as she wants without being bullied.
"Hi, Louie. Hope you had a good sleep?"
"Yes, I did. Hope you did too?"
Rhea nodded. Yes, she did but when she remembered her conversation with her dad, her mood changed.
"Are you okay?" Louie asked, noticing her dull countenance.
"Yes, I am."
"I don't think you are."
"Of course, I am. Why did you think that way?"
"The look on your face."
She rolled her eyes. "I'm fine."
"No, you're not. What's wrong with you?"
"Louie, you came late to school today, what's wrong?" She asked, ignoring his question.
He walked closer to her and dragged her to their seat. "Tell me, what's wrong with you?"
"Nothing."
"You should not tell me that, okay? Just say it. Don't you trust me?" He asked.
"Of course I do."
"Then you should tell me."
Realizing he wasn't ready to give up at all, she decided to spill it out.
"My dad wants us to plan my birthday, and so is Celia, but I don't want to celebrate it."
Louie sighed. "Rhea, I know why you do not want to celebrate it, which I understand perfectly well. But I want you to know that your birthday is one of the moments you shared with your family. And if you don't celebrate it, you're denying them that family moment together." She sighed. "I have a question for you, Rhea."
"Ask your question."
"You know how much your mom loves to celebrate your birthday, right? You know how much she always wants you all to be together on your birthday. Will you deny your family happiness just because you're grieving? Do you think she will be happy over there?". She sighed. "It's been over a year now. Don't you think it's high time to move on and stop pushing the rest of your family away?"
Rhea stared at him. Has she been denying her family the happiness they deserve? Has she been pushing her family away?
She wiped her tears, she didn't even realize she had been crying until the tears touched her hand.
She sniffed. "You're right Louie. I shouldn't deny the rest of my family happiness just because I'm grieving."
"Is that a yes to the celebration?" He asked
She chuckled. "Sure. But you have to join in the preparation. You know since my Mother is dead, we will need an extra hand."
"I'll gladly help," he said and she smiled.
She was happy Louie was willing to hope. She became eager to go home and tell Celia and their dad that she was willing to celebrate her birthday.
She told Celia on their way home that she had something to say to them in the evening. Luck on her side, their dad was home.
"Dad, we can plan my birthday, but I hope you don't mind me bringing my friend into the picture; he has agreed to help prepare for my birthday."
"Of course not, darling. I'm so happy you are willing to celebrate it. I was worried you wouldn't want to," her dad replied, and she smiled.
"Me too," Celia giggled.
"He will come tomorrow, so we can make plans," Rhea said.
"That's nice. Just let me know when the list is ready."
Rhea smiled. "Sure, Dad."
Celia giggled. "Yeah!!!"