The Broken Hearted

18th Birthday

On the morning of her eighteenth birthday, the sky cracked open and called her by a name she did not recognize.

It wasn’t loud. Just a soft hum that vibrated through the bones of the world, settling in her chest like a secret. Iris sat up in bed, heart-hammering.

In her dream, she saw swords. Men fighting to death, pools of blood at her feet. Hands reaching for her. She didn’t see faces, but this time she heard voices. So many voices talking over each other. But only one voice stuck out—a soft and comforting deep voice that sent a jolting current through her body. However, the voice also sounded sad, like the man before her was in physical and emotional pain. She remembered trying to look up in her dream and get a glimpse of the person holding her. But just as she was about to reach his chin, a loud thunder came and suddenly she was alone in the middle of a battlefield, lying in a pool of blood. Maybe it was her own.

Another loud thunder came and a powerful God-like voice spoke her name, “Iris, it is time.”

That was when Iris finally woke up and looked around the room. The sky outside looked normal, like every other morning and she couldn’t help but feel disappointed that it was nothing more. It was just that—a dream. Just like all the other dreams she’s had for a while now. If they were random dreams she’s brush it off as only that, except that they weren’t just random dreams and she couldn’t help but wonder why they felt so real. Every emotion transmitted through them she felt once she was awake. Every tear, every laugh, every cut to her skin. Why is she always dying in those dreams?

She shook her head to rid the thoughts from her head and took a deep breath. It was her birthday. And not just any birthday, but her eighteenth birthday. And she wasn’t about to spend the day stressing over silly little dreams that clearly had no significance whatsoever.

As if on cue, her phone rang, and Luca’s name popped up on the screen. Luca was Iris’s childhood friend. The closest thing she had to a family because it sure wasn’t the three people she lived with.

“Luca—“

“Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday, dear Iris. Happy birthday to you!” Luca sang loudly. “How does it feel to finally be an adult? Gosh, I sure am glad I’m no longer friends with a little girl.”

Iris rolled her eyes, but the smile on her lips only got bigger. “Wish I could say the same.”

A playful gasp was heard from the other line, and then they both laughed. “I refuse to let you spend your birthday with those witches you live with. Can’t have them sucking the life out of you on this day. So get ready, birthday girl! I’m picking you up in an hour.”

“And where is my prince in shining armor taking me?”

“It’s a surprise,” Luca said. “Oh! But pack for the weekend.”

Iris’s brows furrowed. “Weekend? Where are you taking me? How do you even know I don’t have something important planned already—“

“Because,” Luca cut her off. “I’m your only friend and I doubt your family even remembers you exist.”

“Ouch.” Iris laughed. Luca was brutally honest. But that comment wasn’t really something that hurt Iris’s feelings. Her family stopped being her family a long time ago and that no longer had any effect on her.

Or at least she pretended it didn’t.

“Alright. I’ll be ready!” With that, she hung up the call with a deep sigh.

There was already commotion heard from outside her bedroom door, but that was the last thing she wanted to deal with this early in the morning. Instead, Iris hopped in the shower. The hot water hit her skin and relaxed her body. She found herself closing her eyes, enjoying the feeling, when bits of her dream from last night flashed through her mind. Those hands. She hadn’t paid attention before, but his right hand, right on the ring finger, had a silver ring with an emerald stone.

“Iris…”

Iris’s eyes shot open. That whisper was definitely not from the dream. It sounded like it was whispered right in her ear.

“Iris!” Her sister’s voice broke through her train of thoughts. “Breakfast is on the table. We all ate already. Eat if you want. Mom and Dad and I are leaving for the weekend, so keep the house clean. Don’t have anyone over. Especially not that…” her sister paused as if she was thinking of what word to use to describe her best friend, Luca. “Luca guy. Anyways—“

“Don’t worry, Arya. I’m leaving for the weekend as well. The house will be in whatever condition you guys left it in.” Iris turned the water off and reached for her towel. She wrapped it around herself and opened her bathroom door.

Her younger sister, Arya, stood in front of her with her brows furrowed. She eyed Iris up and down and glared at her once she met her eyes.

“And where are you going?” Arya sneered.

“Not sure,” Iris answered, walking past Arya. Her shoulder bumping into her purposely. “It’s a surprise from Luca.”

Arya snorted. “Is he switching sides now? Trying to win you over?”

Iris rolled her eyes and turned to look at her sister. “More like, he’s trying to make sure I have the best birthday ever away from all of you.”

Arya’s smile dropped quickly. “So move out.”

Iris laughed and stepped closer to Arya. “That’s not going to happen. May I remind you this house is mine? My father left it under my name, and now that I’m eighteen, I can claim it. Maybe you and your daddy should be looking for a new place to live. And take Mom while you’re at it.”

Arya gawked at Iris. Her face started reddening, and her lips parted as if she wanted to say something. But then she pressed them into a tight line and walked past her, not saying anything else. However, she didn’t miss the opportunity to slam Iris’s bedroom door on her way out.

Iris sighed. Knowing Arya, she knew it’d be any moment now that her mom would barge into the room with her step-sister trailing behind her, ready to scold her. So she was surprised when she heard the front door of the house be slammed shut and the car leaving their driveway. Just like that, her so-called family was gone. No laughter, no cake, no singing. Just her and the weight of a forgotten birthday. But it had been like this for six years now, and it no longer hurt as much as it did in the beginning.

After a while, Iris was all done with packing and she started bringing her bags downstairs, placing them near the front door. She headed straight for the kitchen, opened the refrigerator door, and scanned the contents inside to see what she could use to pull a quick breakfast. Just as she reached for the gallon of milk, the doorbell rang, and she sighed. Luca was never someone to arrive just in time; he was super early to everything.

“You are early,” Iris swung the door open. But the man standing in front of her was not her best friend, Luca.

“Iris, you didn’t think I’d forget your birthday, did you?” Nic was grinning. His big, tacky black shades covered half of his face. He tried to reach for Iris to pull her for a hug, but she stepped back and turned to walk back into the kitchen.

“Actually, I wasn’t thinking about you at all.”

Nic was her ex. They had dated for three years, and she finally cut him off two weeks ago when she found the flirty messages between him and her step-sister, Arya.

“My love, you’re not still mad at me, are you?” Iris could see the pout on his face without having to turn around to look at him. “I hope you’re not because I planned the most romantic birthday getaway for only you and me. Alone for three whole days.”

Iris laughed dryly. “Am I a joke to you, Nic? Answer seriously. Because the fact that you’re here acting like we didn’t break up because I caught you cheating on me with Arya is seriously pissing me off!”

Nic’s eyebrows furrowed. “Baby—“

“Either way, I have birthday plans already.”

“With who?” He spat.

“With me.” They both turned to see Luca standing at the doorway. And another man she had never seen before standing right behind him.