Wind chimes with little bells and feathers hung at the window of a room, making sounds every time the wind came in or out.
On the bed, a girl was sleeping peacefully. Without making any unnecessary sound, her mother entered the room, a beautiful dress in her hand. She placed it on the dresser, walked toward the bed, kissed her daughter softly on the forehead, and whispered near her ear, "Happy birthday, dear Shyla."
Then she left the room.
After a long and peaceful sleep, Shyla opened her eyes, removed her sheet, rubbed her eyes, stretched her arms, and yawned once again—until her eyes fell on the dress on her dresser. Excited, she got up, grabbed the dress in her hand, and wondered who could have brought it and why. She had forgotten today was her birthday. She was lost in her thoughts, but her peace was about to be disturbed.
Suddenly, her younger sister Nora burst into the room, ready to trouble her elder sister. Nora remembered that their mom and dad had bought a dress for Shyla yesterday as a birthday present. She wanted to see it so she could tease her later, but to her bad luck, the dress was truly beautiful. Her eyes caught sight of the dress in Shyla's hand, and she grabbed it.
Oh, this is the dress mom and dad brought yesterday for her? She doesn't deserve it. I will take it. Low-graded people like you shouldn't have a dress like this—it won't even suit you.
Shyla's heart ached at her sister's words. She wanted to snatch the dress back and kick Nora out of the room. But she couldn't. She was the outsider here, not Nora.
Shyla thought to herself, If my mother hadn't remarried after my father's death, I wouldn't have to face situations like this. She was lost in thought when suddenly Nora slapped her hard, leaving redness on her face.
"Hey Nora, are you nuts!" Shyla said, facing her while holding the dress tightly.
"Hahaha, nuts! 'Shy'—as dad said—you are just a dumb girl like your father."
Shyla's eyes welled up, but she held back the tears, trying to look brave.
"I just want to leave this place with my mother. Who wants to live in a house like this? You dare talk about my dad—you don't even know him! He wasn't dumb. He was the most genius man I ever knew, and he loved me more than anything."
Her heart hurt at the thought of her father, whom she loved the most.
Shyla, now furious, snapped, "Nora, leave my dress. That doesn't belong to you—it's mine!"
Nora started shouting back, loud enough for their parents to hear. John jumped from his bed and rushed to Shyla's room as if the world were ending, with Shyla's mother following. They saw the dress in both girls' hands and sighed in relief—they thought someone was murdered from Nora's screaming.
"Dad, see! Shyla stole my new dress!"
Hearing this, John was ready to throw Shyla out of the house.
"Shyla, why did you steal Nora's dress? That's not good behavior."
Shyla raised her brow. Stealing? Is lying considered a good habit in your so-called dictionary? she thought to herself.
Her mother added, "Shyla, why did you bring Nora's clothes here? You have enough of your own."
"Mom, no! I didn't steal any dress or bring her clothes here. Why would I? Her dress won't even fit me—you know that! This dress was on my dresser, and now she's saying it's hers."
Nora turned red like a tomato at those words.
"I am not fat, you little bitch," Nora thought in her head.
Shyla raised her brow—she could almost feel her sister's hateful thought.
Then her mother stepped in: "Oh dear Nora, it's not your dress. See, John, it's the dress we bought yesterday for Shyla's birthday."
Shyla felt sad that her mother had to explain things to this blindfolded man. She hated her stepfather John, who always fought with her mother about her or about her late father.
John finally agreed, "Yes, Nora, it's that dress we bought yesterday."
Nora's face paled. She wanted Shyla gone. She couldn't stand her mother loving Shyla equally.
Their mother interrupted, "Babies, come downstairs for breakfast. Whoever's late won't get pastry later!"
Both girls forgot the fight and ran down. Shyla was about to eat her toast when John interrupted.
"Shyla and Nora, there's something important we have to discuss."
Nora got excited. Shyla didn't care. She just wanted to eat, call her friend, and leave for college.
"Dear, should I start or you?" John said to Lily with a silly smile.
"Mom and John, say it quickly. I have to go to college," Shyla interrupted.
Lily spoke gently: "Sweetie, no need to rush. We are moving to New York this Sunday. You two will be studying there after the shift."
Shyla's face darkened. She was sure this was John's plan—to take her mother away from the memories of her father. She felt irritated and broken inside.
Nora, on the other hand, was thrilled. "Mom, is it true? Are we really going to New York? Oh God, thank you, mom, dad!" She danced away to her room.
After breakfast, John prepared to leave for the office. Before going, he kissed Lily and whispered, "Goodbye darling, will be late today. Need to ask for transfer from my boss."
Shyla's heart sank at the sight. Deep inside, she wanted to rip John's mouth away from her mother, but she controlled herself.
When Lily returned, Shyla asked, "Mom, did you really love Dad?"
Lily's face darkened. "Sweetie, of course I loved him."
"So is it that easy to forget someone you loved? To start a new life with someone else?"
Lily sighed. "Shyla, sometimes things don't go the way we want. I loved Alex a lot, but he's gone. We have to live. And now we have John, who loves me, and you too. Aren't we happy here?"
Shyla's heart ached.
"Shyla, start packing. We are heading to New York the day after tomorrow. Pack everything, dear."
Her heart broke at the thought of leaving behind the place where her father's memories lived. But she couldn't do anything—she had to go with her mother.
Later, while packing big brown boxes with Nora, they heard their mother's call:
"Sweeties, come down! I've made cookies for us."