Desperate Love

JULY 26, 2019. Sunlight passes through the windows of Mia's bedroom. Her alarm clock will ring at 6:30 but it's only 5:48 AM and she's awake already. Staring at her high ceiling, she thinks of the possible things that will happen today. Will she have a perfect celebration with her parents? Will her mom take her to mall? Or go play arcade games with her dad? How about family dinner with her Nana Cora? Today is Mia's 16th birthday. She's happy because for her, she's a year closer to be a fully independent lady. Well, you can't blame her, she's living in her family's home only with an old nanny, financially supported by her parents who has their own homes, with their new families. She wants to know if her parents can make it today, to visit her on her birthday. Hoping that they won't forget. She hoped not because she already told her parents a week before this day. Getting up from the bed, she went straight to her bathroom to wash her face and brush her teeth. She's in the middle of brushing her teeth when her phone on the side table rang. She immediately cleanse her mouth to properly answer the call. *Mom's calling...* "Mom must be on her way." She smiled as she answered the call. "Hello, Mom! Good morning." She happily greeted. She can't contain her happiness because it can be counted only by her fingers how many times her mom called in the morning since her mom moved out. "Uhm, Mia, h-happy birthday." Mia's mom, Margaret, sighed. Mia thinks that she's wrong about her mother being on her way to her house since she can't hear the car's engine and honks on the road. She thinks of the other possibility why she can't hear any signs of driving and why her mom called. "Yo-you're not coming." It's not a question because deep down she knew it might happen, this is not the first time. Her eyes heated, Margaret promised her that she'll come. Margaret sighed on the phone. "It's Annie, I'm taking her to the hospital because she's got diarrhea. Tom is at work, I have to take care of her." Talking about her half sister, Annie and Margaret's new husband, Tom. "Okey, if that's the case, you can come here at dinner, I'll call dad." Mia proposed, convincing her mom to come and celebrate with her, that's the least thing her mom can do to make her happy on her birthday. "Look Mia, Annie's sick and no one's gonna come to take care of her, Tom took an over time at work, I can't leave your sister here." Her mom explained. Tears start to pool on her eyes as she listen to her mother's reason. "You can't leave her just for this day but you can leave in this house for 11 years? Why mom? Can't you just get a nanny for her just like what you did to me? Leave me with a nanny to take care of me? Oh right! I'm not Annie so why would you do the same thing to her?" Her anger stands out from all the emotions she felt. "Mia, ple-" She turned down the call and cried on her bed. She doesn't want me obviously, if she really did love me then she should've take me with her on her new family. After pouring out her emotions she went down to eat some breakfast. She lost her appetite after the call but her stomach is roaring due to its emptiness. "Oh! Happy Birthday, Mia!" Cora, the old nanny greeted her when she entered the kitchen. Cora is a cheerful old woman who took care of her since she was a baby. Mia thinks that at least someone cared for her as she witnessed how dedicated and committed old Cora is on raising her. Mia loves her so much, the closest family she has regardless of being not blood-related. "Thanks, Nana Cora." She smiled and peeked on the food that the nanny prepared for her birthday. Not much food is prepared since she only wants a small celebration but Nana Cora never failed to make it extra special for the young lady. "Are you hungry already? I cooked your favorites for breakfast, Tadaaa!" Nana Cora placed the tempura, chicken nuggets, cordon bleau and buttered mushroom on the kitchen table to show Mia the simple yet special dishes she prepared. She realized it's her Nana who cared for her all along, she's lucky to have her by her side even though her parents left her in their old house. She can't lose her Nana, she's the best. "You went extra special today Nana, the garnish looks good, the food looks delicious. I'm salivating!" After seeing the food, Mia gained back her lost appetite and tried to get some from it's plates. "Anything for the birthday girl, oh! the lasagna's ready!" She went to the oven to take the food out and prepared it. Mia went to get the plates, spoon and forks while the Nanny arranges the food nicely. "Dad's gonna love it, he likes pasta." Mia said that made the Nanny stopped on placing the food on the table. "And about that..your dad." Mia skipped a breath by her nanny's serious tone. The nanny went out from the kitchen and came back in holding a gift that is obviously for her. "He came here earlier, he brought this gift for you. An emergency happened at his work, he said he'll try to finish it that lunch so he can celebrate with you." The nanny gave her the gift. Her mom can't make it, her dad is not sure. He said he'll try but I bet he won't come. It's work, he focused more at work than to his family since then. Of course, both of them won't come it's not like it's the first time. She wants to cry but she's tired of crying everytime her parents make her feel unwanted. Mia hugged her Nana and found comfort on her Nanny's embrace. "It's fine, maybe someday I'll be used to it, Nana."