Isabella
I smiled as I woke up, it was a good day, a beautiful morning, not just that, but because it was my birthday.
“I’m plus one today,” I whispered happily, but the truth was I didn’t feel so happy, I felt like a part of me was missing like I wasn’t complete.
“No sad feelings,” I shook it off and got up from the bed immediately. My phone beeped multiple times and it was text messages from my friends and family, making me smile.
I responded to every one of them before going to take a bath. I asked Rose to prepare the bathtub for me because I was going to treat myself. Once I was done bathing, I called on the girls so we could celebrate.
I dressed in a pleated trim black strapless velvet mini dress, I styled it with some gold bracelet and earrings, and then I picked a white purse from my closet. I stare at myself in the mirror before wearing black kitten heels. Satisfied with my look, I sprayed my perfume and left the room.
I walked past his room and I halted looking at his door. “No birthday wishes from him,” I mumbled. I felt angry and sad, he claimed to know everything about me yet he didn’t know it was my birthday, “how grand” I sighed and walked away.
I got out of the house and got into the car. The driver drove me to my parent’s house as I was going to have breakfast with them.
“Happy birthday to you Bell,” Gerald said and pulled me for a hug, as we walked into the house together.
“Thank you jug face, now where’s my present,” I stretched my hand to him and he laughed.
“Wow sister, the impatience,” She clicked his tongue and I rolled my eyes at him.
“Babygirl,” Dad said and Gabe me a box that was wrapped so beautifully.
“Now that’s how I liked to be welcomed,” I snickered at my elder brother who just shook his head at me.
“Thank you, Daddy,” I said and hugged him while he smiled.
“Come on open it up,” He smiled. I opened the box and it was an infinity knot pendent.
“We pray you live for as love as you should, and your days be filled with love, ” I smiled warmly before hugging my dad.
“Thank you, Dad,” I said to him and he kissed my forehead.
“Come on, Mom made birthday breakfast,” he said and I walked with him to the dining room.
“Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you,” They sang happily to me and I clapped my hand singing along with them.
“I made your favorite cake,” Min said and picked up the cake from the counter bringing it to the dining table.
“Strawberry cake,” I squealed instantly, jumping in excitement.
“Thank you so much mom, I love you,” I told her completely thrilled.
“Happy birthday my love,” She said and gave me a slice while I smiled brightly, eating it in delight.
“Happy birthday sister,” El and Gerald said from behind me, and I used my hands to cover my mouth shocked, before collecting the gift.
“My favorite Chocolate, facial mask, lip gloss,” I smiled looking at Ella with love in my eyes as I went through the gift basket she gave to me.
“Thank you so much,” I said and hugged her tightly, while he smiled.
“What did you get me?” I said to Gerald and slowly opened his present and gasped at the sight of it.
“Oh my gosh,” I gasped staring at the red kitten heels in front of me.
“Gerald,” I said and hugged him tightly.
“Did my gift beat theirs?” He winked at me while I rolled my eyes.
“I only pretended to like it,” I said and everyone in the room burst out into laughter.
After breakfast with my parents, I was headed to a restaurant to have lunch with my friends.
“Happy birthday Isabella,” Ava said excitedly as she hugged me tightly.
“Happy birthday girl,” Amelia said and I smiled brightly as we walked into the restaurant.
“Thank you, girls,” I smiled at them happily.
“How do you feel?” Amelia asked while Ava placed our order.
“I feel happy, nervous but incomplete,” I sighed and Ava turned to look at me shocked.
“Incomplete? What do you mean?” Amelia asked.
“I just feel like a part of me is missing, and I can’t do anything about it,” I sighed.
“Are you talking about your memories?” Ava asked and I nodded my head.
“You can’t beat yourself over things you can’t control Isabella,” she said.
“I know that,” I told her and exhaled.
“Also, the doctor said you would remember everything, all you need is just time,” Amelia added.
“Yeah,” I smiled as our food arrived.
“So how is Tristan?” Amelia asked and I rolled my eyes.
“Lily is still all over him? ” Ava took the words right out of my mouth.
“Damn,” Amelia said.
“Come on girls, let’s have fun. I don’t want to talk about it,” I told them, and they both smiled agreeing with me.
We ate dinner, chatting throughout until it was time for my present. Ava gifted me a new purse, and Amelia gifted me with a beautiful dress.
“Guys, thank you so much,” I soar my eyes watered.
“We got you babe, happy birthday again,” They said and I pulled them. In for a hug sniffing in.
“I’m going to hear home now, I miss my bed,” I said as we left the restaurant, while I put my gift in the backseat.
“Well before you go, there’s somewhere you need time to be,” Ava said, and I looked at her confused.
“Where?” I asked her already groaning when they pushed me into the car and got in with me too.
“A shopping store? Really?” I said as we got out of the car and walked into the place.
“Why is it dark?” I asked but got no response when the place suddenly lit up, making me flinch a bit.
“Ava, Amelia,” I called out and turned around to find out they weren’t there. I was about to leave when I heard footsteps approaching me as someone sang.
“Happy birthday to you,” I turned around and there he was, walking towards me as he sang.
“Tristan,” I said his name for the first time, and it felt familiar, it wasn’t foreign it felt like I knew it.
“Happy birthday my love, my girl, my woman,” He said and handed me a white tulip and I smiled.
“My favorite flower,” I looked at him, feeling butterflies in my stomach.
“How did you?” I asked him.
“I know everything about you,” He smiled.
“That’s not true,” I said as tears filled my eyes.
“I know strawberries are your favorite ice cream flavor, I know you love warm colors, I know you think roses are cliche, so you love tulips, I know you like to prove yourself without anyone’s help, I know sometimes you get tired but never ask for help, I know you push him away out of your own fear even though you love them, I know you hide things to protect the people you love,” He listed and my eyes watered.
“So yes, I know you muffin,” I sniffed in as more tears came out of my eyes.
“Happy birthday,” he said and gave me a key.
“What’s this?” I asked him staring at the keys in my hands, while looking at him confused.
“It’s the key to the store, you’re the new owner,” he said and I staggerebackwardds.
“What? This store?” I was astonished staring at him and then at the huge store.
“Yes,” He smiled.
“But why? Why would you give me something expensive?” I was still saying when I heard the high-pitched tone in my head and I staggered.
“Muffin,” he called trying to approach me.
“I’m fine,” I lied and stood on my feet.
“You asked me to during one of your shopping spree?” He laughed as if he recalled something.
“How much is this entire store?” I heard in my head, as an image of me shopping here displayed in my head for just a second.
“Isabella,” I blinked my eyes repeatedly.
“What was that? That image, it felt real.” I thought as I breathed out staring at Tristan with tears in my eyes. I looked for the store keys, and st him, more tears fell from my eyes and I didn’t know what was going on with me, all I knew was that I felt overwhelmed.
“Are you okay Isabella?” He asked me and I sniffed in.
“I don’t feel complete, you know all these things about me, but I barely know who you are,” I stated truthfully.
“I have no memory of you, and yet you are supposed to be the most important person in my life, explain that to me,” I cried out.
“Muffin,” he said trying to reach to me, but I too a strong backward making him sad.
“See? You have been so nice to me. Heck, you have taken care of me, and my parents, and right now you gave this beautiful store to me, but I don’t know you,” I said.
“It doesn’t matter to me,” He forced a smile on his kids staring at me.
“I can’t explain it to you even if you ask me to. All I can tell you is that you matter to me and I love you,” He stated.
“I don’t feel that way, I don’t love you,” I told him shaking my head as I took another step backward with more tears brimming from my eyes.
“Oh muffin, if it means I have to make you fall in love with me all over again, I will gladly do it, I will do anything, absolutely anything to be by your side forever,” He said and I caught my breath at his words.
He made me feel, the look in his eyes, the intensity in his words, and the way he said them, made me feel something, something fuzzy, something warm.
” I can’t be here, I’m sorry,” I said and ran out of the store with the key and flowers ignoring him as he called my name.
“Take me to my parent’s house,” I instructed putting my head outside the window for air, because I suddenly felt suffocated.