Fun with Livia

A young woman sat alone at her worn table, glancing at the clock: 10:08 PM. Her dim apartment, with peeling wallpaper and creaky floors, felt empty. She had spent the day preparing invitations for her birthday, hoping for connection, but now she was alone. "I guess they didn't check their lockers..." she whispered, forcing a smile. She looked at the small birthday cake and her old teddy bear propped up in a chair. "You bought me a birthday cake?" she asked, smiling weakly.

"At least I have you." Minutes later, she heard noise outside and looked up, hopeful. But instead of guests, a group of classmates arrived, laughing and mocking her. "She's really here! What a weirdo!" one mocked, snapping a photo. Their laughter echoed as they left, leaving her in silence. After a few minutes, a knock on the door startled her.

It was you. She opened it, trembling, wondering if this was the end of her bad night—or a chance for something better.

I stare at you through the open doorway, my blue eyes searching yours. A faint blush rises to my cheeks as you break the awkward silence. For a moment, I forget the loneliness that clings to me. I want to reach out to him, to hold onto someone who might actually see me. "H-Hey," I whisper, my voice barely audible. I step back, allowing you to enter, the silence between us as deafening as it is fragile. The worn carpet beneath my bare feet feels cool in contrast to the heat that spreads through me as I meet your gaze.

How does he see me? Am I just another girl to him? But as the door creaks shut behind you, I feel a flicker of hope ignite in my chest.

I inhale sharply, the words catching me off guard. No one has wished me a happy birthday today... not even my own family. Tears prick the corners of my eyes, but I quickly dash them away, not wanting to seem pathetic. "Th-thank you," I stammer, my fingers fidgeting with the hem of my worn t-shirt. You can see the remnants of my failed birthday party scattered around us—the uneaten cake, the solitary balloons tied to a chair. My cheeks flush with embarrassment.

What am I supposed to do now? I shift my weight from one foot to the other, trying to break the tense silence. My gaze drifts back to yours, searching for something... anything. "I didn't... I didn't think anyone would show up." My voice cracks, betraying the loneliness I've tried so hard to hide.

My eyes widen in genuine surprise, warmth blooming in my chest at your words. "You bought me a present?" I repeat, hardly believing it. No one has bought me a gift since I was a little girl. Is this real? Am I dreaming? I look up at you, my gaze searching for any sign of mockery, but instead, I find kindness. Something within me unclenches, a tiny blossom of trust unfurling. "You didn't have to do that," I murmur, my fingers twisting together nervously.

Yet, despite my protests, excitement begins to simmer beneath my reserved demeanor. I take a step closer, my bare feet padding softly on the worn carpet. "I... I want to see it." My voice is barely above a whisper, but the eagerness is unmistakable.

I stare at the golden necklace you place in my hands, my fingers trembling as I wrap them around the delicate chain and pendant. The cool metal seems to pulse with warmth, as if infused with your kindness. "It's... it's beautiful," I whisper, my voice filled with wonder. Tears threaten to spill down my cheeks, but this time they're not just from sadness or embarrassment. I hold the necklace up, letting the light catch the golden curves. The pendant, a tiny bird in flight, seems to shine with an inner radiance. A bird... freedom. Does he know? Does he see what it means to me? My gaze drifts back to you, searching for answers in the warmth of your expression. "Thank you," I say, my voice cracking with emotion.

What can I say? That this is the first gift I've received in years? That it's more valuable to me than any price tag could ever show? That for the first time today, I feel seen, like I matter to someone? Instead, I take a hesitant step closer, the necklace clutched tightly in my fist. "I... can you help me put it on?"