It was my big day, that is my birthday. I was all alone in my unicorn and rainbow themed bedroom, wondering what my parents would be doing for my special day in the living room.

Will they be blowing neon balloons or decorating my precious spot, the black wicker swing chair in the rare-third story balcony? Or will my friends be there to wish me while I enter into a fresh, new era of my life?

Lost in all my daydreams, I got dressed in an exquisite frock and, with a big smile on my face, I majestically walked down the stairs of my house as if going down the royal steps in the Buckingham Palace.

As I entered the cosy living room, all my dreams were shattered! There was simply no celebrations or excitement there. I saw my father with a newspaper tucked over his pointy nose, mother sitting in a corner and looking into the Reader’s Digest magazine and my brother playing some game on my father’s phone.

“Ahhmmm!” I tried to get their attention. All eyes suddenly shifted on me, as if they were surprised to see me.

“Oh, it’s you. Happy birthday dear!” my father said to me and the others also wished me casually.

“Thanks,” I replied and headed back to my room.

I felt so disappointed. I didn’t know that my birthday would bring me such sadness. I had already seen a depressing year because of the Covid-19 pandemic, making life so isolated and now absolutely nothing was planned for my birthday this year. I thought that my existence was probably not important for everyone. I wept and wept to the extent that my eyes became all red and swollen.

It was three long hours later that I realised I was being gently shaken by my father. It drowned upon me that I must have fallen asleep. I saw a pretty skirt and blouse hanging from the handle of my wardrobe. My father told me to wear it, dress up nicely and come down quickly.

I excitedly got up, forgetting all the sadness I had felt earlier. I put on matching silver heels, wore some jewellery and rushed down.

When I entered the living room, the lights were off and when they turned on, there was the noise of party poppers bursting all around me. My brother was throwing artificial snow from a spray can and my friends greeted me, “Happy birthday Fatima!”

I was stupefied! My family had been preparing a surprise for me, a mermaid-themed birthday party with my friends and cousins. Tears of happiness ran down my cheek and I hugged my parents. Soon I cut the cake and had the most wonderful time of my life. I can’t be more thankful for such loving parents and friends.

Published in Dawn, Young World, August 20th, 2022