On 25th April night, the night of Camellia's birthday, she was all alone at home and she cannot fall asleep even though it almost midnight. Not even for a wink. Her parents decided to take a rest at the farm quarters for labours worker prepared by the employer since they done with their work later than usual. They have to do some extra work as the farm received a big order of their products.
In the morning, Camellia's parents told her the first bad news of the day that. They cannot take a day off for that day. They need to leave the house earlier than usually with the promise they will come back early in the evening. They will celebrate her birthday later. Unfortunately, later in the evening she receive another bad news.
In the evening, her parents asked one of their neighbour to send messages that they won't be home for a few days to finish the work. And they say sorry for leaving her alone on her birthday. They will celebrate later when everything is done. When she hear that, her heart drop and … She thought that her parents will make a birthday surprise for her, it turns out they have to work and postpone the celebration.
Due to that shock, she can't sleep before decide to have some fresh air on the mountain. She wants to get fresh air in the mountain, find a peace of her … mind. She want to enjoy the night view on her birthday. With the hope she can watch shooting stars to make a birthday wish.
Before go out for hiking, she dress up just like her usual herbs collector outfits. She bring along a water bottle and a bag full of all the things necessary for climbing the mountain. Usually she wear a pair of sneaker and a long sleeves shirt and pants. It help her to moves around freely. But for that night she need to wear extra layer of clothes since it was so cold at night. She put on a thick muffler scarf and thick socks
In the bag, it have a raincoat, a roll of thick ropes, a torchlight, a few piece of batteries, some torn clothes and some small things clattered in it. Camellia left after she make sure everything needed have with her.
Camellia take a careful walk in small and steady step into the mountain. Her right hand holding a torchlight while the left hold a thick straight stick she found. She want to hold on to something as weapon to protect herself with. She feel save to have something to fight with instead of bare hands.
While hiking there all alone in the middle of the night, she plucked some medical herbs she found on her way. "She might as well collect fresh herbs that can be sent to pharmacy tomorrow on her way to school in the morning," she thought to herself.
She plucked the herbs while humming happily to forget her sadness. Half an hour later, Camellia arrived at the cliff where she found a few month ago to catch her breath after done collect all types hers she need. The scenery from that high is really breath-taking. She love the place so much even at the first sight.
"Hah... finally I'm reach here." Sigh Camellia. She put her heavy bag full of her stuff and herbs on the forest floor. She walk toward the end of the cliff to sit there letting her feet hanging. She kick the air softly to relief her frustration out onto nothing. She can't possibly hurt other just to make herself happy.
Suddenly, her dam of tears broken. She cry all she want so that she get put her smile back the next second it stop. She looked upward to the sky wishing she can see the full moon that night. Unfortunately, she can't see it as there was some thick dark cloud covering the moon. All she can see is a little bit of moonlight.
Her wish to gazing stars and make a wish to a shooting stars too burnt into ashes when she saw the thick cloud.
Camellia sit there in the cold weather for almost two hours. Her body temperature drop almost every minutes but she still need to cool down her heart. It need time to heal.
After she crying her heart out, suddenly rain cat and dog make Camellia decided to move and return to her home. She sighing and huffing to stand up from the end of the cliff suddenly hear something. Rustling and growling sound can be heard from behind the big bushes near her bag.
Camellia's heart thumping like it almost pop out of her chest. Her mind almost burst from overthinking. In an instant her mind think of so many question that she can never answer herself unless she make a move. Unfortunately, her body betrayed her as they refuse to make any move afraid of unexpected attack from the predator.
She just want to stay alone and find peace. Never in her mind would she be a target as a prey of an unknown beast. "What is wrong with me today? Why do I have a bad luck on my birthday? First, my parent cannot take a day off. Next, there is no birthday celebration and they have to work overtime. Then, staying all alone at home on my birthday. And then these? Where I'm about being a meal of a beast that might had been starving for a few day. I can't believe these things happen to me." thought Camellia. Blaming her luck on her birthday.
All these time since hold her breath without herself realize about her action.
She chant a silent prayers all the time hoping to see tomorrow and beg God to give her a chance to reflect on her any wrongdoings. She still want to meet with her parents. She want to take care of them for her whole life.