Birthdays & Orion

The wind chime tinkles, the morning breeze blows and the rays filter through the cotton curtains into my room. My eyes flutter open with the sound of my alarm ringing. I turn around and reach out for my phone to stop it. I accidentally snooze it and mentally curse myself for it. The worst morning ever. But just then, the date on my lock screen catches my attention. 12 August. Ohh… Summer’s birthday.

I sit up and my mind immediately starts playing the week’s events. Asher’s disappearance, Lilly’s miscarriage and Holly’s suicide attempt. Everything, together and swiftly swims across my mind. But whatever, today is a good day, Summer’s birthday.

Summer Fernsby. My younger sister. Age is sixteen and mischief is like a nine year old’s. Yesterday, the day before her birthday, she somehow managed to burn her finger and three days prior hit the floor and got hurt on her elbow which will probably leave the ugliest permanent scar ever. But, why-ever she got hurt, it’s also my fault. She burned her finger ‘cause she was persistent on cooking me an omelette for I was hungry and hit her elbow because she rushed to hand me a new bottle of shampoo.

I stand up and stretch my muscles. Yesterday’s seven rounds of carrom still hurt my head.

I stride to my bathroom and pick up my brush, just beside my toothpaste stand, lay a note, “Be down by 8. Love, Elsie.”

Of course, the only daughter’s one and only once a year birthday party had to be grand. Elsie could never miss an opportunity to spend money flying however she wished to. The temptation is probably too much to bear.

I quickly brush my teeth and shuffle down the stairs to the living room with a small wrapped package to find Summer and dad watching, her favourite show, Pokemon.

I approach her and hand her the things I was carrying with a soft and tender smile.

”Happy Birthday, baby sis.”

She jumps up in excitement and kisses my cheek, “Thank you so much, Cyrus.”

My expression considerably softens before hardening again as I see Elsie approach from the corner of my eye.

Summer unwraps the package to reveal a limited edition pokemon keychain, a gold plated silver bracelet with cranes and the famous words of Apollo engraved on it, “The oracle speaks, but the meaning is yours to find.” She had always loved the Greek history, especially it’s romantic counterparts and out of all the romantic stories, she seemed to love Achilles & Patroclus’s and Odysseus & Penelope’s. I couldn’t find something related to that, but I bought whatever I could extend my hands to. She squealed in joy and hopped. So unlikely for a high schooler.

Elsie strode towards her and snatched the bracelet from her with a scoff, “How beautiful. So thoughtful of you, Cyrus.”

“No problem, it’s my loving sister’s birthday afterall.” I smile without my eyes and look into her her’s.

She smirks and hands Summer the bracelet back, “What a loving brother you are, dear.” She smirks and goes back to the kitchen.

Just then, my eyes fall to my father, who had been observing all of us for a while, sitting on the armchair. He evidently noticed my annoyance and her mockey well. I frown a bit as he shakes his head, indicating me to stop my growing irritation. I sigh and look back down at Summer who’s again sat down on the tile floor and is inspecting the keychain with a soft smile and the bracelet already on her wrist.

Suddenly, the doorbell rings and Elsie ambles to the door to check who it is. She peeks through the peephole and turns to look at me with a smirk. I immediately understand who it could be. I turn my face away as she opens the door and in walks a person.

Summer looks at him and grows giddy with excitement when she sees him. She hops up and staggers to him with a joyful expression.

“Orion!”

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