Feliz Cumpleaños

There was utter silence in the room. Absolute silence.

"Well?", I asked anxiously. " Say something. It's getting really awkward with all the staring."

Sebastian and his team of tailors stood to the side looking me over with a critical eye.

Lola was standing speechless. Emir was deep in thought.

"Well it's been a lovely wearing this dress but the corset is choking the life out of me. Would you bloody get me out of it?!", I asked outraged.

"Dear God, I think my bra cup size has increased 5 times, by the way this corset is pushing up my boobs. A fine piece of engineering, I must say! Makes me look a Renaissance porn star.", I exclaimed like a hobo while staring at the floor to ceiling mirror. The dress was indecent.

It was of the palest crystal blue, with an intricate lace detailing up the flowing skirt and a thigh high slit on one side, with thousands of hand stitched Swarvoski crystal rising from the hemline through layers of white tulle that looked like the breaking waves on a sea shore. The bodice was nothing but a sea blue corset lined with pearls all over and two sleeves made entirely of pearls. More pearls were sewed throughout the dress.

An incarnation of Venus, the Paphian Venus. That is what I looked like. Femininity and lush curves highlighted by the dramatic layering of the dress. The slit revealed one toned thigh. The dress was scandalous of course, with my breasts threatening to spill over, the thigh slits, the hanging pearls all over my body, the soft organza coming out. The dress was shameless, desire incarnate.

A wild and beautiful dress for the mischievous goddess of love. It was a piece of art but one could not ignore the skirt digging into my hip.

"I need the skirt to be two sizes bigger. I can't move in this. My tummy hurts.", I complained.

"Cotoure is not meant to be sensible. It magical, it's poetry.", Regina , one of the tailors said.

"I won't have her fainting during the event. We will alter the skirt to fit her needs. She has work to do.", Emir said.

"But, Mr. Aslan, there is no time.. ", Sebastian began.

" Make time.", he said.

"The shoulders too. They need to be a little loose.", I said.

They nodded.

I stepped out of the dress and changed in the next room.

As we came out of the atelier, Emir said,

"You're awfully quiet."

"I'm in shock.", I said quietly.

" You didn't like the dress?", he asked while climbing down the stairs.

"I don't. I treasure it.", I said. "It's the most gorgeous dress I have ever has the privilege of putting on. Thank you for letting me wear it."

"It's a good fit. Hopefully it will be altered properly by Friday.", he said.

"I think I have seen that dress before.", I commented.

" It was a part of my private runway show, my personal collection- The Birth of Venus. That dress was the center piece I created inspired by Botticelli's painting of the same name."

"I have the honor of of wearing a dress made by you?!", I exclaimed.

As much as he was my rival, he was also an exceptionally talented designer. I had to admit that wearing a dress designed by him was a lifetime's opportunity.

His car was waiting outside. He got inside but before he could close the door, I blurted,

"But how come you didn't sell it, a dress that would make you millions? Why give it to me?"

"Because it was meant to be yours.", he said cryptically and closed the door.

___________

" Happy Birthday To You...

Happy Birthday To You....

Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday....

Happy Birthday To You....."

The hospital staff sang for Josh in his room. Ethan sang with them on Face Time.

So did I and Georgiana, her daughters Mira and Vannesa, Beth, Stella, Lara and Bree. Even Caldron had come down from the office to visit him.

The whole room was decorated with balloons and streamers. Courtesy of the staff.

We cut the cake and gave everyone a piece. Josh couldn't eat it so we did for him.

We celebrated seven years of happiness and love and the gift of my little one.

I kissed Joshua's forehead.

"Te quiero.", I whispered into his little ear.

Be safe, I prayed.

Be happy, I begged.

Come back to Mama.

I held his hand as we all celebrated his special day. I had gotten him a silver chain with a charm of Saint Nicholas, the patron saint of children, a book( because he loved to read) and a little J&S twined together.

He would have adored it.

Folding his hands in mine, I kissed each little finger and the centre of his palm.

Love of my life. Heart of my heart. The sweetest bloom in my spring. My sun.

The guests dispersed shortly after. They hadn't brought gifts along. I had requested them to make donations in his name to the charity I supported, for specially abled children.

"Are you sure you will be all right?", Georgiana asked when I told her to go home.

" I will be fine. It's been seven years. I think I can manage.", I said.

"Hasn't been bloody long enough!", she said angrily. " I won't forget that night for the rest of my life."

I wouldn't either.

"Go home, Georgiana, it's late.", I told her.

"The hell I am leaving you here on this day.", she said.

" You are. Someday I will have to face this night alone. Someday I will have to confront my demons.", I reminded her.

"I got my son on that night, on that holy night. It's a blessing for me. I keep my blessings close.", I told her.

"You almost died, Sana.", she reminded me.

" I didn't. I am still here and Josh will be okay too.", I told her with an unexpected certainty. "Go home. Your daughters will be expecting you. So will your wife."

"Fine. But I'm not happy about it.", she stated and left.

I closed my eyes for a moment and let myself remember the terrible night.

Blood....

There had been so much blood, that night.....

Pooling on the floor....

And the pain in my abdomen was ripping me apart.....

_________

7 years ago

"You are my wife! You will stay at home and take care of my children! YOU WILL NOT GO TO WORK! You understand me?", Todd shouted from the next room. He was drunk again.

The harshness in his voice drowned in the sound of the violent storm outside.

"I cannot just quit. The company is really taking off.", she said perplexed trying to explain to him.

Why would he act this way? What had gotten into him?

He had been so supportive, so loving, all this way.

"This is the end of the fucking discussion! I won't hear another word. There is no need for you to work. I earn enough for both of us to be happy.", he said veering towards their bedroom slowly.

" But, I am not happy, Todd. Don't you see, I am not meant to be a housewife. I am no good at doing luncheons and parties with the other women. All they want to talk about is the latest paint trends and the newest gossip in the neighborhood. I....I can't do that."

She begged him to understand. She was struggling to move. Her bump was huge and my feet were swollen from sitting. Unlike other husbands, Todd couldn't be expected to massage them. But, it was okay. She managed fine with Jules and Georgiana, her newest employees at the office. They took good care of her.

"What about our son?", he said placing his hands on her belly.

"Who would raise him, if you're gone? "

"I am not gone all day, darling. Besides, working mothers raise healthy children all the time.", she tried to reason.

But alcohol and reason didn't work together. The ugly beast in him, reared it's head.

He took hold of her shoulders and shook her violently

" You promised to be an obedient bitch, didn't you?! You and your mother! Oh, my daughter will listen to every word you say!", he mocked mimicking her mother.

"I did! I always listen to you. Please! This one time I want you to listen to me!Please!", she said trying to balance   herself. The world was spinning.

A sharp pain shot through the stomach. Thunder rumbled outside. The rain beat in such fury that the glass windows shook.

He ripped himself away from her touch.

"You won't listen and you won't learn. I saved you from being a life of poverty. I saved you! I OWN YOU! YOU WILL OBEY ME!", he shouted.

"I will not. Not in this.", she told him firmly. The ugly pride reared it's head in her. Poor she may be, immigrant she maybe but she was no one's slave.

" Oh, you will not?", he said with an ugly sneer.

"No."

With a strike as swift as lightning, he grabbed her long black locks.

"Ahhhhh.....", I screamed and promptly lost my balance.

He pulled me across the floor. He wasn't in his senses. He had gone insane!

The baby. Protect the baby! Protect the baby!

The chant rose in her heart. As best she could, she wrapped her arms around her stomach.

He pulled her across to the stairs. She panted hard in pain. Vision blurred and tears flowed unrestrained as he pulled her.

Her scalp burned.

"Leave me! Leave me you monster! ", she yelled and kicked but she could hardly lift her enormous body.

He came near the stairs. That is the moment when everything went wrong.

Todd's body swayed. His grip on the collar of her dress slipped. Todd bent forward unsteadily and tipped her over the edge of the stair case.

She tumbled down, her head hitting the wooden wall.

Her hands were wrapped firmly around her belly. The world spinned as she reached the bottom of the staircase, screaming in pain.

The back of her head dashed against the newel of the staircase, and the world blacked out.

_____

Blood, she realized dazedly. She was lying in a pool of blood. The skirt between her thighs was soaking. Her hand shot to her mouth, trying to choke back the sobs. Her hands were soaked in her blood. Red everywhere.

"My baby! My baby is dying.", she muttered. " No! NO!"

She dragged herself down the floor, with unsteady hands, leaving a trail of red on the Persian carpet. Her lower abdomen was numb. The phone.

She had to..... She had to find the phone.

It was lying on the sofa.

She dragged herself over, crawling. Her belly was being ripped apart in pain.

The phone rang.

"Hey! Sana. What's up?", she said cheerfully.

" The baby!", she sobbed. "Please....please...save the....save the baby."

_________