Feathers in the Moonlight (English)

Chapter 2

"Happy birthday! Sweet Leonie." Her Aunt Charrie gave her a kiss.

She opened her eyes, the morning sun struck her face as her Aunt tied the curtains of the windows.

"Thanks, Tita." She rubbed her eyes and snuggled onto the blanket. She had a hard time waking up in the morning. Since it was her day, she would like to spend it on her bed.

"Aren't you going to celebrate your birthday, Leonie? You'd better get up there and spend the day with your friends." encouraged her Aunt.

"We already celebrated it yesterday, Tita. All I want is to sleep all day." Her eyes remained closed and she hugged her favorite pillow to signal that she would never get up.

"What about your parents, aren't they going to call them?"Her Aunt was now pulling her blanket so she could get up.

When she heard about her parents, she straightened her body and opened her eyes. This time they were looking at the blank ceiling of her room.

It was only last night that she had a conversation with her parents. They were in abroad for more than five years. Being the only child, she was left under the care of her Aunt Charrie who chose to stay single.

"Mom, I really wanted to become a writer. I wanted to be like J.K Rowling or Nicholas Sparks. Can't you understand how I feel." Her voice was still in control. She neither shout nor whisper, but it was full of hate and pain.

"No, Leonie. You don't understand. We want you to have a better future and you cannot have a good life in writing. There are many writers out there, but only few are remembered." Her Dad was discouraging her decision.

"If you will choose writing, then might as well know that we are not going to give you any centavo to pursue your disgusting dream, Leonie!" Her mother was determined not to support her career path after graduating in Senior High.

Tears fell down, she remembered her shattered dream. Leonie knew her parents were not joking, that they meant what they said.

"Are you okay, child?" Her Aunt sat beside her bed, then brushed her fingers on her long shiny black hair. She always did that to calm Leonie.

"We already talked last night. Let's not mind them anyway." The sound of her dull voice echoed through the walls of her room.

Leonie decided to get up. Her feet looked for her sleepers. Then those feet took her to the bathroom. She removed her underwear and let her body drenched through the running water from the shower faucet. She stayed there for an hour to cool her mind. She wanted to take away the hurt and frustration that crept to her heart.