The day my family stole my heart ❤️

That Saturday morning began like any other, golden sunlight spilling across my bedsheets, the kind of quiet that makes you want to linger under the covers just a little longer. Then my phone rang, and sleepily, I heard the sound of a birthday song. For me? I wondered, blinking in confusion.

Before I could process it, my door open. There stood my siblings, all looking excited, each carrying gifts. It was then I fully recalled that it was my birthday. I was excited, it hasn't been like this for the past 19years, what’s happening?

Our parents were not around. When I asked where our parents went, they exchanged mischievous glances and changed the subject. Meanwhile, my phone kept buzzing; messages and calls from friends, each one wrapping me in warmth.

The day unfolded like a dream. I went ahead with my usual routine- brushing my teeth, taking breakfast and tidying up but everything felt lighter, charged with anticipation. Just before noon, my parents returned, with my cousins carrying a big grocery bag. I wasn't allowed to touch it but I could see plump chickens, crunchy snacks, bottles of drinks. Yet no one uttered a word about celebrations.

Then my elder brother who returned with my parents casually suggested an outing. That he did to keep me from seeing what those things would be used to prepare and to prevent me from knowing what exactly is going on. It was a strategy planned by my parents and him while they were out. “Let’s kill time at the mall,” he said. We wandered for hours, laughing over silly inside jokes, window-shopping for things we didn’t need.

As we paused near a fountain, he slipped me a folded note. On the cover 'Happy Birthday, my darling sis 'was scrabbled in his messy handwriting. Inside, his words stole my breath:
"You’re the glue in this family, the one who remembers birthdays, who laughs the loudest, who turns ordinary days into something brighter. Today, we wanted to give that magic back to you."
I clutched that note like a treasure. His phone buzzed. “Time to head back,” he announced.

As we neared home, I noticed cars lining the street. The moment I stepped inside- SURPRISE!
The living room erupted in cheers. Balloons bobbed along the ceiling. A banner with my name fluttered above the couch. My parents stood beaming, their eyes filled with pride. I ran into their arms, my heart too full for words.

The party was pure joy, soft music playing through, the clink of glasses, the scent of baked samosas flying in the air. We played games (“Guess the Baby Photo!” had us in stitches) and ate meat pies while sharing embarrassingly sweet childhood stories.

Then came the cake, it was vanilla-cream frosting. As everyone sang, their voices wrapping around me, I closed my eyes and made my wish. Then we cut the cake at the spell of J-E-S-U-S having everyone's hands on mine.

Just when I thought the surprises were over, my brother unveiled his masterpiece: a towering “fruit tree,” it had different other fruits pinned on it. It was beautiful. I hugged him fiercely. It was then tears rolled down my eyes.

That night, as I curled under my blankets, I reread his note by lamplight. The house still hummed with leftover laughter. My little cousins were still around. Their parents came back to pick them the following day.

For the first time in years, I fell asleep still smiling and couldn’t wait for Monday to arrive so I'll tell my friends. I wish I was aware, I would have invited them to share in the joy of that day.

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It's your girl @ritaetim