Ashes of Her Heart

Chapter 2

Curiosity was quietly stirring inside Alexa as she stepped closer to the window.

From across the street, colourful lights decorated a white house. Children were running across the lawn laughing while adults talked happily near tables covered with food.

At the centre stood the girl from earlier. She was wearing a blue dress. Her dark hair was curly. She had a smile. The little girl spun around under fairy lights holding balloons in both hands.

Alexa stared silently. The little girl looked like someone from TV. She looked too happy to be real. Then suddenly the girl looked up. Toward the window. Alexa froze.

For a moment their eyes met across the street. The girl tilted her head curiously. Then smiled. It was a smile. Alexa's chest felt tight.

The girl waved at Alexa.

Alexa ducked under the window. Her breathing became uneven. Why would someone wave at her? People didn't wave at Alexa. They yelled at her hit her or ignored her.

After a second, Alexa peeked up again. The little girl was. The party was still going on outside. Alexa relaxed a bit. She shouldn't have looked anyway. Nice things weren't meant for Alexa.

A loud knock came through the house. Alexa jumped. Richard woke up in the living room.

"What now?" he asked.

Another knock came.

Sandra stormed from the hallway angry. "Who keeps bothering us tonight?"

Richard opened the door aggressively. "What?"

A cheerful woman stood outside holding a box. She looked beautiful close wearing a dark coat and having a gentle smile. Behind her stood the girl clutching a stuffed rabbit.

"Oh sorry for coming late " the woman said.

Richard looked annoyed. "What do you want?"

"My daughter wanted to bring your girl some cake " the woman replied.

There was silence. Alexa's heart stopped.

The little girl asked excitedly "Can I give it to her?"

Sandra appeared beside Richard. "She's asleep " Sandra said.

The little girl. Looked sad. "Oh", she said quietly. Then she looked past the grown-ups toward the stairs and at Alexa.

"There she is!" the little girl said loudly.

Alexa stopped on the stairs. She felt scared. She didn't even realise she had walked out.

The woman looked where the child was looking. Saw Alexa standing there without shoes, in big pyjamas. For a moment the woman looked surprised. She looked at Alexa's face, wrists and how scared she looked. Alexa was thin and quiet. Alexa looked down.

Sandra moved fast. "She trips a lot" Sandra said.

The woman looked closely. "I see" she said.

The little girl pulled her mother's sleeve. She was being impatient. "Mommy!"

The woman blinked before smiling softly again. "Right ", she said. She held out the cake box. "My daughter insisted."

The little girl grinned. "It's strawberry!" she exclaimed.

Alexa stared at the box. No one had ever given her anything.

Richard snatched the box rudely. "Thanks " he said.

The little girl frowned. "She's supposed to have it " she said.

Sandra forced a smile. "She will " Sandra said.

Alexa knew she wouldn't.

The woman seemed to realise that. Her expression softened sadly as she looked at Alexa. "What's your name, sweetheart?" the woman asked.

Alexa hesitated. No one asked her questions kindly. When she didn't answer immediately Sandra snapped, "Answer her."

Alexa flinched. "A-Alexa " she said quietly.

The little girl beamed. "I'm Mia!" she exclaimed.

Alexa looked up. Mia smiled wider.

"Happy birthday " Mia said.

The words hit Alexa hard. Happy birthday. Someone remembered. Her throat tightened. Before she could respond Richard slammed the door shut.

There was silence. Then Richard shoved the cake box toward Sandra. "Throw it away " he said.

Alexa's eyes widened.

Sandra took the box carelessly. "She doesn't deserve it anyway " Sandra said.

Alexa stared at the frosting. Something inside her cracked quietly.

Then Richard pointed toward the stairs. "Go to bed " he said.

Alexa lowered her gaze. "Yes sir " she whispered.

She. Walked back upstairs. Neither adult noticed the tears slipping silently down her cheeks.

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Back inside the closet Alexa curled up under a blanket. Hugged her knees. The party lights across the street were going out one by one. The music had stopped. Everybody was sleeping peacefully. Alexa was still awake because birthdays come to an end. Pain doesn't.

A while later after midnight thunder started to rumble. It began to rain. The drops tapped against the windows as Alexa stared into the darkness.

Then a small sound broke the silence of the storm.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Alexa looked confused. The sound was coming from the bedroom window. She carefully got out of the closet. Went to the window.

The rain made it hard to see outside. Then she saw Mia Davis standing under a pink umbrella. The umbrella was too big for her.

Alexa was surprised. Mia was too. She lifted something to the window. A plate with a slice of strawberry cake. Alexa stared at the cake. Mia pointed to the window.

After a moment Alexa slowly opened it. Cold air came inside. Mia whispered, "My mom said you didn't get any cake." Mia handed Alexa the plate. Said, "I saved the biggest piece for you." Alexa took the plate and her hands were shaking a bit.

Alexa asked, "Why are you doing this?" Mia looked confused. Said, "Because it's your birthday too." Alexa felt a pang in her chest. Nobody had ever made her birthday special before. Mia said, "Now we're birthday twins." Alexa looked at the cake. Then at Mia. She felt something inside her something she hadn't felt in a long time. Hope.

Then a loud noise came from downstairs. Alexa's fear came back into her eyes. Mia's smile went away.

"Was that your dad?" Alexa didn't say anything. Mia understood. She reached through the window. Took Alexa's hand. Her hand was warm.

Mia said, "You can come to my house sometime." Alexa looked at her. Mia said, "My mom makes pancakes." This made Alexa want to cry. Pancakes sounded like a thing.

Another loud shout came from downstairs. Alexa pulled her hand back. "You should go " she said. Mia said, ". Eat the cake okay?" Alexa looked at the cake again. Said, "Okay."

Mia ran back to her house across the street. Alexa watched her go. Then closed the window.

The room was quiet again.

Alexa sat on the floor. She held the plate carefully. She looked at the cake. Then she took a bite. It was sweet. It tasted like strawberries and sugar. Alexa's eyes got wide. Tears started to roll down her face. She wasn't sad. She was super happy. Someone had been really kind, to Alexa.

Down she knew that tonight was going to change everything.

Alexa took another bite of the cake. It tasted like something. She felt happy and sad at the time. Most of all she felt hopeful. She felt like things might get better. That was a feeling. Alexa finished the cake put the plate down and sat there for a moment thinking about what had happened.

Mia had changed everything. Mia had made her feel special. Alexa would never forget that.