(Ten years)

“Happy Birthday to you!”

I smiled in wonder as Rosa put down the cake in front of me. She had spent the entire afternoon making it, with some help from mum and Eliza, and I hadn’t been allowed in the kitchen. It was called a ‘Triple Chocolate Cream Cake’. Basically, it had a chocolate cake with a layer of cream on top, then another cake and cream, and another. In the top there were pieces of strawberry around the rim.

“It’s amazing,” I whispered.

“Hurry up and cut it,” Rosa complained, like she was a little kid again. “I’m hungry.”

I laughed and blew the candles out, making a wish.

“What did you wish for?” Olivia asked.

I shook my head and picked up the sharp, silver knife next to me. “I can’t tell you.”

Slowly and surely I cut into the cake, hoping it wouldn’t collapse. It didn’t, but it came out dirty. That meant I had to kiss a boy. There were only two boys in the room. Dad and Benny. I pulled the two year old onto my lap and kissed him on the cheek. Benny squirmed and wriggled out of my grip, so Eliza picked him up.

Mum cut the cake into seven slices and put them on plates. I got the first and biggest piece, and stuck my silver cake fork right into it.

“This is the most amazing cake I’ve ever tasted,” I exclaimed, making Rosa blush. “You have a talent.”

I quickly finished my piece, and regretted eating it so fast.

“Here, you can have Benny’s,” Eliza said, pushing his bit of cake over to me. I smiled and began eating, a lot slower than before.

Once all the plates had been taken into the large kitchen, Dad went to fetch my presents. Usually presents were done in the morning, but for my tenth birthday I wanted both my families to be together, so we had to wait for Mum to get to Dad’s house.

“Open mine first,” Olivia said, pushing a small package into my hands.

I tore off the silver wrapping and was left with a small box. Olivia motioned for me to open the box, so I carefully lifted the lid. Inside was an opal pendant. Carefully, I put the box down and flung my arms around Olivia.

“Thank you, thank you so much!”

Olivia laughed. “That’s alright. Turn the pendant over.”

I let go of my friend and did as she had instructed. On the flat side, someone had engraved into the silver, Friends 4eva. Happy Birthday Josie. I shakily put the pendant on and hugged Olivia again. Dad returned, carrying three sacks full of presents!

“Are they all for me?” I asked after getting my breath back. I had never gotten that many presents before, it was amazing!

Dad nodded and put the sacks down on the floor. Everyone moved away from the table. I sat down on the floor with Olivia next to me. Rosa leaned against the wall, smiling, and dad and Eliza sat together on a chair. Mum sat on the black couch with Benny on her lap.

I took out the first presents, from mum, and opened it up. There was three books, all from the Pony Pals series. I loved horses, and even though the Pony Pals series was a bit babyish, I couldn’t help but read them. The second present was from Rosa- a soft toy dog with a bone and blanket.

It took a while, but finally all the presents were opened. I had two piles of books, a few cd’s, three dvd’s and lots of vouchers and money that was in a new silk purse. Of course there were loads more, but there was so many that to list them all would take all day.

I smiled up at my family.

“Thanks guys.”

Mum put Benny down and gave me a warm hug. “I love you so much Josie, never forget that.”

I smiled and nodded, agreeing with her.

Everyone left after a while. It was late, so Dad sent me up to bed. Rosa, now twenty, followed me up. I climbed into bed while she looked at the photos on my shelf.

“Do you remember this day?” she asked, pointing to a photo of me and her. It was a school photo from two years previously. Rosa was sitting on a chair, with me on her knee. She later told me that I was squashing her leg.

“Yeah, I remember,” I said. “Why? It wasn’t a very important day. Just a normal school day.”

Rosa turned around. “It was Mum and Dad's anniversary, didn’t you know that?”

I shook my head, surprised. Mum hadn’t said anything after we got home. Rosa sighed and turned to face me.

“Well, it doesn’t really matter anymore,” she stopped and looked around the room, before sitting on my bed. “Do you remember that letter?”

I nodded. “Yeah, it’s in my top drawer. Sometimes- sometimes I look at it and imagine what life would have been like if this had all never happened.”

Rosa nodded. “Do you mind if I take the letter? I want to use it for an essay, for uni.”

I was puzzled. “What does law have to do with that letter?”

Rosa laughed. “I’m doing family law, Jose. It’s very important.”

I shrugged. “Yeah, sure. You can take it. Just- it’s important. Don’t lose it or anything.”

Rosa nodded and stood up, leaving the room after opening my drawer and taking the letter out. After the door closed I faced the wall, letting tears slowly fall out of my eyes and onto the white pillowcase. I could hear Rosa next door, scribbling away. I tried to fall asleep, but instead I was forced to listen to the sounds of my family. Benny crying, doors closing, Rosa typing. Hushed whispers from dads and Eliza’s room. Something being printed, doors opening and closing again. That’s what I fell asleep to. Those little noises that never seem to mean anything, but mean to much to me. The sounds that can just make you cry.