“... happy birthday to you🎵” Paul made sure his voice was the highest as everyone sang the birthday song. It was a really joyful moment. His mom was in the middle of the room standing in front of the cake his dad had bought yesterday. Family members were also present. Even his mom's twin sister who never came visiting because she worked very far away in the north.
Tears flowed down Paul's mom's eyes, tears of joy. She wasn't the only one shedding tears, Paul was also very happy and seeing his mother shed tears of joy also made him shed tears too.
"Okay now it is time to open your gifts,” Paul's dad said as he ushered his wife into the dining room where her birthday gifts were stacked on the dining table.
“O my God, there are so many gifts" Paul's mom said with her hands close to her chest astonished and overwhelmed.
“Open mine first," Joan, who was Paul's junior cousin, said , pointing to a little box.
Everyone laughed together at joans plea for her gift to be opened first.
“Let's see what JoJo got for aunty,” Paul's mom said as she opened the box.
"oh she knitted gloves for me, so sweet thank you hun,” pauls mom said as she wore the gloves and hugged Little Joan.
Everyone had bought gifts for Paul's mom, except Paul he had something more special in store for his mom after the celebration just after everyone left.
They finished the gift opening and now everyone was in the sitting room talking and laughing, the adults were discussing while most of the children were seated on the floor watching TV, except Paul who was watching his mom, he was just so happy to see her so happy.
Paul's mom went into the kitchen and brought out pastries she had prepared and began sharing it to everyone when the doorbell rang.
Paul's mom went to answer the door as she was the only one standing at the moment.
She opened the door and it was her doctor, Paul watched her closely trying to decipher the words that came out of their muted lips. Paul noticed as the doctor started to console his mom and tears rushed down her eyes, and not tears of joy this time. Paul's dad who noticed what was going on went to the door and hugged his wife who burst into tears on his shoulder.
The adults soon all joined in and the energy in the room changed. Paul's cousins were still fixated on the TV but Paul was 9 years old and he knew something was going on.
The birthday party was turned into what seemed to be the opposite. There was sadness everywhere.
The birthday ended and soon everyone left sad. Paul asked his dad what was going on but his dad just hugged him and told him ‘everything is going to be alright’.
Paul's dad and mom were in their room throughout the day as his dad consoled his mom who was crying nonstop. Paul overheard his dad talking about chemotherapy and he knew what was wrong because he was a smart kid.
At noon Paul's mom and dad were asleep in their room when Paul entered. He woke his dad up first.
“Paul, how are you?" His dad said as he rubbed his eyes that were still worn out because of crying.
“Dad, I need to show mom something," Paul said with an urgent face.
Paul's mom woke up and they both followed Paul wondering what he was on about.
When they got to the dining where Paul led them there were three plates of nicely made noodles as that was the only thing Paul was able to prepare perfectly at his age with candles lit.
“Oh my God, Paul you did this yourself?" Paul's mom said, covering her mouth.
“I will be back here shortly,” Paul said as he rushed into his room and brought the guitar his dad bought as a birthday gift for paul.
“🎵I found a love, for me…” Paul started singing as he entered the dining room.
His mom started crying and it was pure tears of joy. He had planned to sing the song for her at the celebration as it was her favorite song which she used in her wedding tapes and Paul's birth tape, as his birthday gift to her. But after the doctor's visit he made a plan b.
His mom and dad sandwich hugged him so tight when he was done with the song. After they all sat down and dug in the noodles. And while they ate and laughed at jokes they made, Paul smiled as he watched them and felt he had brought a light back to life.
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