Living In Their Shadow

Chapter 1: My Birthday

Peyton

"The ones you love, hurt you the most"

Sigh.Who was I to think things would change, that things would get better and that I could be fully happy. Deep down, I already knew that nothing would ever change and yet I still set myself up for disappointment.

Today was my birthday, the happiest day for most but the worse for me. You see, every year my birthday is some how ruined by something or someone, seriously I'm not kidding. On my eight birthday my mom got me a Dora cake and my cousin's stalker showed up and tried to climb over my fence. Another birthday, no one really bothered to even say "Happy Birthday" and they were supposed to be my family.

Yet this birthday was the worst birthday of them all. At first, I couldn't wait for people to start coming and found it hard to control my excitement. I had straightened my long black hair and wore my favourite red baby doll dress. I even told myself the night before, that this year I would not cry; things were gonna be better this birthday, I was going to enjoy it for once. How wrong was I to think that...

In the beginning, it was going fine as people were starting to arrive. As it went on, I found myself left out on my own birthday party. It felt like they weren't here for me, like they just came for food and a place to chat. My two cousins chatted leaving me out like a loner, everyone else was having fun. While I was dying inside, feeling suffocated and no one cared.

When it was time for cake, no one came. I even announced that it was time for cake, but it was like they didn't hear me. I felt invisible in my own home and was on the verge of streaming tears.

As I sat down for a solo picture, I was trying so hard to smile and pretend everything was okay. After three pictures were taken, it was time for everyone to join, but no one did. My parent kept telling everyone to join in for a picture and I was left sitting there by myself like an idiot.

After the forced singing, the cake was cut. I tried hard to restraint my tears and emotions from bursting. As I was handed my piece, I started to stuff my mouth before any cries would escape. At last, I couldn't take it anymore and before I let the wall that I so desperately put up crumble, I escaped in to the washroom and let the silent fat tears rolled down in waves, hitting my checks one after another. I'm crying on my birthday and no one notices or cares. "happy birthday to me" I say to myself. Ha what a joke.

As a bit of time passed by, my mother noticed my disappearance and soon everyone else started to wonder. I could hear their voices. "Where did Peyton go?" Serena, my cousin asked. " Peyton?" My mother called. "I'm in the washroom" I hastily replied through the closed door. Desperately trying to calm myself and get rid tried of my puffy red eyes, I pressed a cold cloth on my eyes and took deep breaths. Feeling centered, I twisted the door knob and went to face my so called relatives...

*****

That night I cried myself to sleep.