Chapter 16: Chapter 16

• • • • Lily Allen's POV • • Human World • •

~ ~ Singing ~ ~

One could hear the sweet echoes of a song from the outside.

"Happy birthday to you happy birthday day to you Lily, happy birthday to you!." my mum, dad and best friend sing together to wish me a happy birthday and I am so lucky to be this loved.

Today is 1st January 2000 and it's my birthday. I'm the only child of my parents, so I have all their love and maximum attention for something good, although hard to deal with at times but above all, I love them.

"Happy sweet 16 my girl." Mum perks my jaw, I cut the cake and they all scream in joy "oooooh..."

"Thank you!" I hug dad as soon as they stop singing the common generic and screaming. "Many more years my daughter." he kisses me on my forehead.

In our little glass plates, Nina and I take our piece of cake. We walk out of the house and sit on the stairs, watching a few cars pass while we slowly devour the cake.

The pale crescent moon shine like a silver claw in the night sky. We look up at the blanket of stars that stretched to infinity and this occasional barking of faraway dogs broke the silence of the night. It's quite a quiet neighbourhood, especially at night.

I was enjoying the silence regimen until Nina's voice eradicated it. "Now that you are 16yrs old what are you planning to do? Remember you always prayed so hard for this day to come." My best friend Nina asks sarcastically.

"Don't be silly, I'm just 16 it's not like the world was coming to an end and I know how much I've always prayed to reach this age so you don't have to remind me." I frown.

"Oh, needles piercing your organs, It was just a question." she retorts. "For your answer, I'm planning to explore the world," I say passionately.

"Explore the world, really?" she asks in shock. "Yea, don't know why but I feel like there is something great awaiting me. I don't know where but, I have this burning sensation, I need to go far away." I shift near her with enthusiasm.

"If you go far what about your parents?" she murmurs. "I love them and I know they love me too but despite all their love I always feel something missing in me. A feeling which is hard to explain. I think they can sort themselves out without me."

"How can you say such a thing, you have the most adorable parents in the world and the age for independence is 18 and not 16, so chill." Nina becomes serious, looks at me and asks," are you sure you are alright" off course I am,

"I didn't say the contrary but I need to find myself. I feel lost." "Then discuss with your parents, I guess they will find a solution to what you want or they might have answers to whatsoever is bothering you." Because right now, you are talking out of this world.

"Exactly, I would have met them if I had any questions but I don't have any. It's just an explainable feeling. A feeling that there is a part of me I've never explored."

"Now I'm lost, anyways I advise you to discuss with your parent, they were understanding and more that you're their only child and I'm sure they will understand you and ensure you are happy."

she rapidly finishes her piece of the cake thoughtfully. "What if you forget the idea of leaving and we try to find your happiness, here, together." she lifts a brow with her broad stare fixed on me.

She renders me thoughtful. "See you tomorrow, it's late I have to leave." she perks me "think over it, perhaps it might even be a way of time." deep within her she knew it was a waste of time but as my best and the only friend she has no other choice tag. To help me.

"Thank you for coming." I hug her. "Always." she shoves me off her and she moves in towards the living room, strutting by the door "Bye, Mr Mrs Allen, and thank you so much for the cake." she happily screams.

"You are welcome, Nina." mum said, she was cleaning stuff in the kitchen while dad was watching Tv and he simply gives a nod and she leaves immediately.

I remain seated out watching the sky, counting the stars. Then mum comes out.

"Please, come in, Lily, I have a special gift for you." mum seriously says. I rush in. "Follow me." we walk right to moms room.

"Please, sit" as she seats on the bed, I sit next to her. The seriousness in her voice makes me nervous and very eager at the same time.

She tries to say something but she hesitates, I feel it. When I turn my glance around I find Dad standing at the entrance of the room seriously staring at us like the world was coming to an end. It's like he's expecting mum to open up to me yet I can infer.

Mum immediately fakes a smile at me to cover up the tense atmosphere which was already dwelling. She turns to the little cupboard by her bedside and takes out a necklace made up of gold, but it looks ancient.

"Who offers such to her daughter on her 16th birthday in the 21st century? Damn, mum, it's outdated. Except if it's something emotionally valuable." I told myself deep down.

"This chain has been with our family for many years now, I inherited it from my mum and my mum from her grandmother, and so on. Now it belongs to you, this is a symbol of your history... Please take very good care of it." she pants while handing it over to me with a few drops of tears escaping her eyes.

"Mum, you scared me. Wow, I'm happy to have it." I gently seize it from her with so much enlightenment, so happy to have something this special, especially at this time when I feel this alone. I hope my ancestors will better watch over me now.

I know we're in the early twenty-first century, yet I still believe in such myths of our ancestors' spirits watching over us and much similar stuff. I think this is what makes me different from the young stars of my age rendering me more abandoned.

"Please take good care of it." she insists. "Of course, I will. Thank you so much mum." hug her, I move to dad and hug him too, then immediately walk out, happily rushing to my room. It was very late already and I needed to rest for school the next day.

~ ~ Notification alert ~ ~

I turn around, it's my phone a "blackberry storm" showing that I've just received a message. I check it no other than Nina. I open her MMS to see a funny gif saying good night. I simply drop the phone with a smile.

While dad locked themselves in the room as soon as I left. They murmured in low but angry tunes.

"You promised that you were going to tell her the truth but once more you haven't. I think it's better I take things slowly, clearly, you will never voice it out." he frowns.

"Can't you see how lost she feels most of the time, if we tell her the truth she will feel more confused and this will give her enough reasons to isolate herself? I think it's not yet the right time." She frowns too

"There is no right time for this it is either you say it or not. You didn't think for one second that perhaps telling her what we know will help her to be less confused. But no! As always you think solely about unnecessary things." he moves his hands as he speaks.

"Call me whatever you want my dear husband, but I will tell her when the right time comes and don't you dare do something without my approval. After all, I am her mother, the one who carried her whenever you weren't around. So I best know what is good for her than what you imagine."

"You aren't helping her and I hope it won't be too late when you will finally decide to tell her." he moves angrily to his side of the bed, he recklessly climbs without saying anything, and he covers himself to get some sleep.

While his wife lays in thought with her mind escaping to her deepest thoughts until she falls asleep without realising it.