"Happy Birthday to you

Happy Birthday to you

Happy Birthday dear Kyria

Happy Birthday to you!"

"Make a wish sweetie."   My mother Natalie told me with a warm smile as a now ten year old me beamed gleefully and looked at my birthday cake with four flickering candles on top. I looked around at my family and close friends who were all smiling at me.

Closing my eyes, I pursed my lips and blew out the ten candles. Everyone applauded, I flashed a smile feeling the warm wind blow through my hair. It was a neutral warm day in the park in a small town of St. Auguste, Louisiana. The birds were singing with the dragonflies flitting around the murky pond with cypress trees by the water edges.

I noticed a man sitting on a bench not far from the party. He was coughing and looking unwell; his skin was paleish color and his eyes had dark bags underneath them and looked quite sunken as if he hadn't slept in weeks.

My mother placed a paper plate with a slice of cake in front of me, drawing me away from the man.

Today was perfect for now..unbeknownst that soon all hell will break loose.