AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"Thank you, Will," I tell him and walk out of the cafe.
Once outside Leo pulls me closer to him. "And you thought it wasn't important to tell me it's your birthday today?" He sounds hurt, and I've not heard that from him before. I feel horrible that I've made him feel like that when all he's done for me is make me smile.
“Ju... I... Sorry,” I say cringing. I don’t really have a good reason to tell him. I have all thebadreasons to tell him.
“Hope?”
“My birthday isn’t really a happy day—”
"I want to know." He cuts me off, and my body shivers at the thought.
“They just made me do things to them. They did things to me that … that I never want … to relive again… so please—”
Leo pulls me in for a hug as the tears escape me and I cry into his chest. He has given me a life that I want to share with him; he's given me something to wake up for, and that'shim.
“Let’s go home.” Leo kisses the top of my head and hugs me a little tighter as I nod into his chest.
Pulling me closer to him, his arm is around my waist, he shouts for a taxi. When one pulls up alongside us, he opens the door for me, and I climb in. Leo follows but the moment the door closes he pulls me to him as he tells the driver where to go.
* * *
Walking into the house, I go straight to the kitchen to put the bag from the café on the counter.
“Do I get to know what’s in the bag, birthday girl?” Leo asks as he types a message on his phone.
Pulling out the boxes from the bag I tell him, "Last year was the first year since my parents died, that I got myself a cake. When I went to the café Will was just there and he gave me four extra cupcakes as a gift and he's done the same this year." Opening the box, I look at the pretty cupcakes, and I open the other to see a cake with a candle in the center that says,Happy Birthday Hope.
Leo stands behind me, wrapping his arms around my body. “So, is there anything that the birthday girl would like? Anything?” he asks as I lean against him.
“No, because of you I have the only thing that I’ve ever wished for. To be free.”
"You'll always be free now," he whispers in my ear, and I smile as goosebumps appear on my arm.
Iamfree. I don’t have to pretend to blow out a candle; I don’t have to sing happy birthday to myself in my head.
"Well, let's make a wish," Leo says as he lights the candle and I look up at him. Taking his thumb, he wipes my tears.
Leo moves in closer to me and, tip-toeing, I lean into him as he kisses me. This time it feels different. I don't know why, but I'm lost in him. Every part of me is with Leo, and I don't want it to change.
Leo leans his head on mine. “So, what are you wishing for?” “I always thought if I tell my wish, it won’t come true.”
He smiles widely. “I’ll always try to make your wishes come true. Just tell me what it is?”
“To be happy,” I whisper as I close my eyes and blow out the candle. Slowly opening my eyes, I feel Leo’s gaze on me.
“Get ready for your wish to come true,” he whispers.
I think back to my last birthday with my parents. As I get older I’m forgetting them, the yearstheyhad me, they beat out any of my childhood that I spent with my parents, so they’re slowly becoming blurs to me now.
Leo nudges me playfully. “I have something being delivered for dinner. It’s my special birthday meal that I get for my day.”
“When is your birthday?”
“August 20th." I watch him cut the cake and place it on a plate. "Happy Birthday, Hope." He brings a spoonful of cake to my mouth, and I open up letting him feed me.
"You grab one of your new books, go sit down, and today I'll be in charge of serving dinner when it arrives." I go to open my mouth, but Leo puts his finger on top of my lips. "Don't argue with me about it, sit, read and let me treat you." Placing his hand on my left cheek, he gives me another kiss.
I go to walk to the bag of books, and he laughs. "Don't read anything too fucked up. I know there's one in there that has a colorful cover so read that." I look over my shoulder, and he's smiling at me.
