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“It is said that life is a journey. Every man has his own path and his own journey. When path cross, and journeys shared, then we experience the genuine beauty of living.”

***

November, 2006.

On a bright Tuesday, the birds were chirping; With the breeze swaying the tall trees; the sun was smiling, and everything seemed so perfect and beautiful. But what was not so beautiful was me. Rushing downstairs in a not so pretty Cinderella-designed pyjamas and my brunette hair looking unkept.

I let out an awful yawn, stretching my arms wide open. Just like the gift my mother offered me every single day. The appearance of the gift isn’t quite physical, it’s more of a feeling that only I get to feel. A feeling that made me feel warm.

It was the first day of November 2006, my birth month. I passed by the kitchen eavesdropping on my mother talking on the phone about a gigantic birthday party I knew it was for me; however, I pretended not to know. I wanted to be excited. It was just ten days’ time, and it felt like tomorrow.

Before my birthday, my loving parents knew exactly what I wanted. Dad already made the invitation cards while mum was planning for me, a Disney Princess themed party. It would spread my family and friends across our yard and, as typical. Mothers would gossip, fathers would drink beer, and kids my age would run for our lives as we play Freeze Tag. What truly would make me excited, however, would be the gifts on the cake table! We would all eat our best dishes, laugh, cut the cake, and at last, open my presents! These would happen in ten days’ time, but I’ve dreamt and fantasized about everything already.

I walked to the kitchen to take a cup of water, then I opened the fridge and took out an apple. As it is, I take this every morning. Somehow, my parents made me believe I was a princess but, I never knew why. Maybe it was because I was the only child or not. All I did was believe. About to go back to my room upstairs, I heard “Princess Sylvie!”

“Yes, mum.” I turned to her, taking my first bite from the red juicy apple at hand.

“Good, you’re awake! You need to prepare for school.”

“Awwwnn... But mummy, why?” I whined disappointedly.

“Because today is Tuesday.” She pointed out.

“But it’s going to be my birthday soon.”

“That’s not enough excuse, dearest.” She wore a frown.

“But I don’t go to school on my birthdays.” I reminded her.

“Yes Princess Sylvie, I know.” She replied with a small chuckle and walked closer to where me. “Your big day is going to be next week Friday which means you won’t go to school next week Friday. We’re also going to throw a special family party by going for a picnic.”

“What?! That’s outstanding, mum!” I lamented. “But I don’t want to go to school today.” My voice dropped almost immediately.

“Come on, Princess Sylvie. If you don’t go to school, you’d miss a lot. And I’ll have to cancel the family picnic and birthday party.”

“Mother!” I cried out, offended.

“Come on, my love. I’m only joking.” A wide smile formed on her small lips as she held my hand and took me inside.

“Come on, it’s 7:20 already. Get prepared else you’ll get late.”

“I would get late, mum. As usual!”

“Stop concluding.” She smiled at me. “If your teacher asks you why, tell her it was all my fault, okay?”

“Okay mum.” I echoed in the bathroom. Well, I expected her to say that because it happens almost every day. But mum had a lot of explaining to do with the school headteacher. They’ve known the Morrison’s for that.

***

10th November, 2006.

7:30 p.m.

‘Ding-dong! Ding-dong!!’ The doorbell rang. My eyes focused on the door to see who it was.

“Daddy!” I rushed to the tall figure that entered. It was my dad. He has brunette, brown hair and blue eyes just like mine. If you ask me, I’d say I took more of him compared to my mum.

“Hello cutie pie, how was school today?” His baritone voice jerked at me in excitement.

“Fine dad. I can’t wait till tomorrow already. I have already invited my friends and some of my teachers. They would come after school hours.” I reported with a glint of happiness in my eyes.

“Awwwwn.. that’s good. Oh, my gosh!” He muttered out of frustration. “Damn, not again...Ugh!”

“What’s it dad? Is anything wrong?”

Mum, that was preparing dinner, came into the living room. “Honey, you’re back!” I watched her give him a welcome peck on his angular chin.

“Yes, darling...” he replied in a low voice as his shoulder dropped in resignation.

“What’s it, my love? Is everything alright?” Her eyebrows pulled up in confusion.

“I forgot to get her cake at Betty’s.”

“OMG! How is that even possible?!”

“I don’t know... It must have skipped my mind. Ugh!” Another scoff escaped his lips as he sat on the sofa chair, pulling out his neck-tie.

“We can get it tonight. We should get it before tomorrow morning, right?” He suggested.

“Yes. The designers would be here first thing tomorrow morning. Everything should be perfect for our Princess. Especially on her 8th year birthday.”

“But we can still go to Betty’s tomorrow morning. It’s not as if the bakery would close.” I mumbled under my breath.

With this, they turned to me as I nodded my head sarcastically at the both of them.

“Princess Sylvie...” Dad walked to me, placing me on his lap. His hands guided my small, puzzled face closer to his. “You need to understand.
Something important I’ve learnt in life is... What you plan to do tomorrow, do it today. Procrastination is the thief of time; you are your own fairy godmother, my dear. And trust me, you do not know what you mean to me. To us... To your mum and I.”

“I want to know, dad. And I’ve wanted to ask too... Why am I the only child? I mean, it feels so boring. It would be nice if I had younger siblings like Piper, Dream and Rachel, my school friends.”

I watched my dad chuckle hard. My mum, whom was serving dinner, joined him in laughter. She just watched from behind, trying not to intervene.

“You really need a baby brother now, Princess Sylvie, huh?”

I nodded my head in agreement. “That’s my birthday wish.”