Prologue

Today, is my happiest day, at least after my parent's dismissal.

I'm going to add plus one today, finally going to be an adult.

I looked at my reflection in the silver-framed mirror in awe.

Don't get me wrong, I know I'm beautiful but the girl staring back at me in the mirror is stunning beyond any evaluation.

When the makeup artist praised me. I thought, she was just praising my beauty like others.

I looked around only to see that I'm the only one inside the room. The make-up artist and everyone have left.

I picked up my golden diamond purse from the dressing table and looked at my appearance once again.

My long brown hair was styled in the front while the rest was styled up and held with a diamond band. My blue long fluffy gown has a different chestnut embroidered on it with a flawless blue diamond.

My anuty spent a lot on this and surely, I marveled at it and sincerely appreciated her for this. She made sure that I never missed anything after the death of my parent.

Their death seems as if it was just yesterday and it is still so painful.

My parent died when I was twelve years old. My dad might not be a wealthy man or one of the most wealthy men in New York but he was rich and growing up was the most beautiful memory, I never wanted to forget.

I had everything and more than everything a child will want while growing up.

My dad was into gold mining and my mum was a famous fashion designer.

My dad owned a few companies under him.

They were my everything. I couldn't forget how I felt when I heard the news of their death.

They left the world on the 21st of December.

I remember the last time, I saw them.

On that fateful day, after our usual breakfast. They informed me about their sudden departure.

I was shocked and cried like a kid, I was not that spoiled due. This is not the first time, they left me behind placing me under the care of the nanny and workers in the house but something felt wrong about their sudden departure and I felt that within me, so I behaved like a child.

I cried my guts out that day.

" Must you leave? It's almost Christmas. Can't it wait till after the celebration of Christmas? Are you going to leave me alone to celebrate this Christmas alone?" I said while sniffing.

The expressions on their faces softened. My beautiful mum swatted down beside me and said while caressing my cheeks lovely.

" Baby, look we are not leaving you alone in this house. You are with anuty cay and many others.

We are promising you. We will return before the celebration of Christmas. we promise,

Isn't it sweet?" she asked looking at my dad who smiled back and nodded before he bent his waist and rumbled my hair before bending down beside my mum.

" Yes angel, what mum said is true. we will return before the Christmas celebration."

A smile finally made its way to my face.

" Pinky promise." I lifted my little finger.

" Pinky promise." he crossed my finger and laughed out.

" Have I ever made a promise without fulfillment?"

" No," I replied softly.

" So relax," he said.

" remember that your little angel loves you both, mum and dad," I said now in all smiles.

They broke down in tears and both of them kissed my cheeks at a time.

" We love you too our angel."

I remember that was the last time I saw them and that was a beautiful memory. I wasn't going to forget for anything.

I watched both of them depart the mansion as the driver drove away. I stood there and waved at them till the car drove into a distance and disappeared.

I remember waiting for them until I saw on the news that a plane coming back to the country crashed.

I never knew that my parent was involved in the accident till later........

" Knock knock."

" nana, are you still there?" the voice of my anuty brought me out of my relevant thought.

" ya, sis I'm coming!" I yelled from inside and looked at my appearance in the mirror. It was then I realized. I was crying.

I dried my tears and took a deep breath before moving toward the door. I twisted the doorknob. I was welcomed by the beautiful sight of my anuty.

She looked so beautiful even with a bulging stomach.

She wore a simple siLver long gown and her hair was up in a donut bun. Her make-up was little yet elevated and complimented her beauty.

"Nana, you looked so beautiful just like your mum," she said in tears. She has been this emotional, especially since her pregnancy.

I pulled her into a warm hug " You too look beautiful. If you cry like this what will my little nephew do? shh, shh cry no more." I said joking trying to enlighten the mood.

She looked at me and burst into laughter. She withdraw from my hug and touched her bulging stomach " Baby, don't cry like your mum ok?"

I smiled and said " Don't worry, nothing like that will happen. My nephew will always laugh like me."

" As if you laugh," she said smiling.

" But at least. I smile better than you do"

" Hmm, I hear," she said with a smile

" Amanda, it's the time!" my aunty's best friend called disrupting our chitchats.

" We are coming," she yelled back and looked at me before saying

" Let go down."

" Sis, you look beautiful," I said before we left

She looked at me and smiled " Thank you nana."

we went downstairs. Before we could reach downstairs. I could already hear the buzzing sound of music.

" Happy birthday!" they all yelled immediately after I arrived. The whole place was lightened and small writing appeared bodily " HAPPY BIRTHDAY LINA." followed by their shout.

Before I could speak, the color of the room changed again to different colors. I felt something on my body. When I looked up. I saw flowers of different shapes flowing down. I stood on the spot in shock.

I couldn't believe it. I couldn't control my emotions. This was beyond my expectations. After my parent's died, I forgot about my birthday but my anuty never stopped surprising me.

I cried and run where she was standing clapping in tears and smiling at the same time and I hugged her.

" I love you, Amanda."

" I love you too nana." she smiled and withdrew from the hug.

" Huhu, look at this emotional display here!" the voice of my best friend rang out.

I wipe my tears and look at her.

She pulled me into a hug " Happy birthday girl."

" Thank you!"

" I'm coming!" my anuty whispered in my ear before leaving.

My aunty's best friend Sandra came and congratulated me followed by many others. Some I could recognize their faces and some I couldn't.

My coursemates were also there.

After working around for more than thirty minutes. I was already getting tired.

I looked around for my anuty.

After the cutting of the cake, I haven't seen her and I can't leave the place.

I looked around for my friend and spotted her flirting with a boy and rolled my eyes. That is one of her unique characteristics.

I moved toward her location and tapped her shoulder and told her to keep an eye on around before departing.

I went upstairs but couldn't seem to find her anywhere.

" Sis!" I called loudly so that she could hear me because of the buzzing of music downstairs.

After checking almost everywhere without seeing her. I couldn't help the fear that was crawling in my heart.

Her due date for delivery is one week and five days and I was told to keep an eye on her.

" Sis!"

"Amanda!" I called laughing.

I searched her room and everywhere but couldn't find her. I wanted to go down and ask my matilda but before I could do so. it clips to me that I haven't checked the balcony of her room.

I ran in that direction with my strength and almost screamed out in shock when I saw her lying on the ground.

" Sis!" I knelt beside her and shook her but she wasn't responding.

" Sis, please open your eyes!" I screamed as tears flowed down my cheeks.

I left her side and run down and called my best friend and her best friend but I know that brought suspicion at that time. I couldn't care more.

I called the emergency number as we ran upstairs. Within seconds the ambulance arrived and she was rushed to the hospital.

After we arrived at the hospital, she was rushed into the surgical theatre.

Minutes, the doctor arrived and asked about her family member which I identify immediately.

I was told to sign before she could be operated upon to save her life and that of my nephew.

I sign with my hands shaking. I don't even know that my hands were shaking it was the doctor that placed his hand on my shoulder and told me to calm down and that everything was going to be okay.

I nodded solemnly.

Anuty Lillian, her best friend, and my best friend and her parent were there holding and supporting me.

It seems like forever before, the light in the surgical theatre was told off.

I sigh in relief on seeing the doctor. I rushed.

" Doctor, how is my anuty and nephew!" I asked immediately.

" Your nephew is fine!" I smiled and sighed in relief but my happiness was short-lived,

" And my anuty?"

The look on the doctor's face changed.

"I'm sorry, we tried our best but she couldn't make it." that was all it took before I blank into darkness.

My birthday became my worst day.