Dance of the Damned

Birthday Gifts

"Micah." Briar gently shook the boy awake.

"Bradie?" Micah asked rubbing his closed eyes. "What's wrong? Did something happen?"

The instant Micah opened his eyes, he was almost thrown back by the sheer number of colours in front of him, making his eyes suddenly sore.

"Why are there so many people in the room?" He asked, worry coming on his face. "Is something wrong? Is there a fire!?"

"No, young master." Elise chuckled, taking his hand in hers. "It's the day of your birthday. The day you came into this world. And we know that there is a celebration tomorrow night, but we all wanted to have one with you here, is that alright?"

"You didn't have to," Micah said, getting shy. "But I like spending my birthday with you all too."

"We baked you a cake." Three maids came up and placed a large cake mostly of frosting on the table in front of Micah.

When did they even place the table there? Micah thought, shrugging. Oh well.

"Thank you!" Micah said, feeling the gentle heat from the fire of the candles, on his cheeks. "Should I blow it out and make a wish?"

"Go ahead," Briar said, flopping on the bed beside him. "Today is your fifteenth birthday, after all, make a big wish."

"Hmmm. What do I wish for? Oh, I know." Micah asked, then blew on the candles, making his wish at the same time.

"Happy birthday!" Everyone cheered as the candles went out, claps resounding throughout the room.

"Thank you!" Micah said, beaming ecstatically as he stuck his finger into the cake, licking the frosting. "Meryl, Lucian, Tyra. Thank you so much for the cake."

"It is our pleasure, young master." The three said, grinning at the boy.

One by one, the other servants gave Micah their presents, which ranged from hand-embroidered silk handkerchiefs to all kinds of sweets.

They left once they were done, wishing Micah well.

"This is from me and Karla," Rodger said, handing Micah a big box that the boy opened to reveal a quilt.

Not one square pattern was the same so it looked like a vomit of colours and patterns, all clashing and mismatched. But that was not what made it special.

Micah could tell just from the feel of the cloth and the little names and dates embroidered at each corner of the quilt.

They were made from the old clothes that belonged to his parents.

_____________________

Two weeks after their deaths, Micah had his mother's and father's belongings, clothes and everything, kept in a trunk box.

He would visit that trunk every single day and feel every fabric, remembering their faint smells as all the smells that came when he thought of them were just burnt flesh.

Though their smells did not last forever and soon they were just clothes that he could not bear even getting near anymore.

It was too empty, too painful.

So he told the servants to throw everything away and never brought it up again. Until now.

_____________________

"I-I thought you threw them away," Micah said, looking at Rodger and Karla beaming at him.

"We apologise, young master," Karla said, kneeling in front of Micah. "We couldn’t throw them away."

She touched a grey, satin cloth with a date on it. "I remember when your mother wore this dress in the charity ball. She looked like an angel that came to earth.

"This may be a sad attempt, but I wanted you to know that you are never alone. And, they are always looking after you."

"Thank you," Micah said, wrapping his hands around the woman. "Thank you so so so much."

"It is my pleasure, young master," Karla said, pulling away and dabbing the corner of her eyes as the tears continued to roll down her face. "Never forget how much we all love you and stay healthy."

"I won't," Micah said, holding the cloth tightly to his chest. "Thank you again.”

“I believe it is my turn,” Elise said, handing the boy another box that Micah took his time to carefully unwrap.

“It’s a shame I can’t see the wrapping. But I am sure it is beautiful.” Micah said, holding the gold wrapping made to thousands of tiny gold threads all woven together. “You always had this habit of overdoing the wrappers, Nanny.”

“I like making things pretty before I gave them to you, young master.” She said calmly.

“Even if I will not be able to see and appreciate them?” Micah asked, holding the wrapper in front of his face.

“Just because you can’t see them does not mean you do not appreciate them,” Elise said, taking his hand in hers. “Even though you cannot see them, young master, you have always spoken on how beautiful my choices of gifts were. I do not think you were ever unappreciative.”

“It appears you have a wonderful view of my character,” Micah said, giving her a soft smile. “Well, I should open the box then.”

Pulling the lid off the box, Micah felt the cloth, buttons, detailed embroideries and everything.

“Nanny Elise … this is- could it be-“

“It is not your father’s one,” Elise said apologetically as she pulled out the royal purple uniform with tiny detailing of plum and red all over the sleeves and the front.

“It was far too old to be worn, but I was able to replicate everything,” Elise said, placing the cloth on Micah’s hands to feel. “I know I am overstepping my boundaries.

“This is what is supposed to be given to you, by a family member, to wear on your fifteenth birthday party. Your ‘coming of age’ party.

“I hope you do not mind that I was the one that made it and not your aun-“

“Thank you!” Micah jumped into the woman’s arms, causing the gifts on his lap to fall over, but not before Briar caught them. “Thank you so so so much! I was just wondering about what I would wear tomorrow.”

“You should be the centre of the party,” Elise said, patting the boy’s head. “I want to thank you too.”

“What for?” Micah asked, pulling away from the hug as the woman looked at him softly, cupping his cheeks.

“For being born. For existing.” She said, placing a soft kiss on the boy’s head. “Thank you for choosing me that day too, young master.”

“You’re going to make me cry.” Micah sucked in a breath and grinned brightly at her. “Just watch. I will become someone you are going to be so proud of.”

“But I already am,” Elise said, laughing and ruffling the boy’s hair as she placed him back on the bed. “I always have been.”

"Ok. Ok." Briar said, swatting her away. "It is my turn to give Micah his present. Please leave."

“Is our headstrong Briar embarrassed?” Elise laughed, pinching the boy’s cheeks.

“Go.” Briar insisted, holding a box in his hands, a blush creeping up his face.

“Ok. Ok.” Elise chuckled. “Don’t be up too late you two. I will come to get you in the morning.”

“Good night, Nanny Elise,” Micah said, holding the uniform close to him as she nodded and walked away.

“Damn, all their presents were so good, I don’t know how I will be able to top it,” Briar mumbled, looking at the box in his hands.

"Oh? You have a present for me, Bradie?" Micah teased, turning to the boy.

"Of course I do," Briar said, indignantly as he handed him a box. "Open it."

"I wonder what it might be,” Micah said, brimming with excitement as he felt along the side of the box, resting his hands on top of a hard book cover. “Hmm?”

Carefully flipping open the pages, Micah felt along the cool paper, reading every bump on the paper.

“Happy fifteenth birthday, Micah. Don’t go doing stupid things by yourself again. You have a family, don’t forget us.” Micah read out, instantly getting the book snatched from him by Briar. “Hey, I was reading that.”

“Who told you, you could read that out loud?” Briar asked, lips quivering from embarrassment.

“Sorry. Sorry.” Micah chuckled, taking the book from him again. “Though, this is a little clumsy. Not like it was done by the man who usually makes my custom books.”

“Of course it will be a little clumsy,” Briar said, indignant. “I was the one who made it and even wrote all those words.”

“But Briar, you don’t know how to read Braille,” Micah said, pausing for a second while looking at the boy’s smug aura. “S-since when did you begin learning Braille??”

“Of course I would learn it,” Briar said proudly, putting the other presents away. “And I won’t tell you since when either. Just know that it was a piece of cake for someone like me to learn.”

“The story in here, isn’t it the one you and I made up in the garden? You remembered everything? You really are incredible, Bradie.” Micah said, grinning broadly as he held the book close to him. “Thank you so much. Really. What would I do without you all?”

“I wonder that sometimes,” Briar said, flopping down on the bed. “Want me to read it for you?”

“Yes!” Micah said, handing the book to Briar who carefully began feeling along the pages, the other boy snuggling up to him.