Elizabeth's P.O.V

"You should've seen the look on his face when he saw her" Ellie said as she laughed with Rach.

"I have to admit that you looked at her as if she grew a second head, man" Tyler said as I couldn't take it anymore and brust into laughters.

We were in the school's cafeteria having lunch when we decided to tell Rach about our night. Right now, they're talking about when Kyle saw me in that red dress.

"Ha ha ha, this is hilarious" Kyle said sarcastically in boredom which made us laugh even more.

My attention was suddenly cut by dad's ringtone so I didn't hear what Tyler was about to say. I picked up as the rest kept talking.

"Hi, dad" I said warmly.

"Hey, Beth" Dad said with a calm but a little sad voice.

"I miss you so much" I said a little sadly. Me and Katie aren't used to dad travelling away, we haven't been separated for five years now.

"I miss you more than you could imagine" He said with what sounded like sorrow.

"Are you okay?" I asked worriedly.

"Yeah, honey. I'm fine. Are you okay?" He asked seriously.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Are you sure everything is okay? Is there a problem at work or something? You sound down" I said in concern. He was silent for a moment before he spoke.

"No honey, everything is fine. I promise I'm okay. Just.. Just take care of yourself. I have to go now, I'll call you later. Okay?" He said.

"Okay, take care of yourself. Love you" I said softly and worriedly.

"Love you more" He said before he hung up.

There's something wrong. I know my father like the back of my hand. His voice was sad. He doesn't mix work with his social and private life no matter what, so probably it isn't about work. What could it be about?

"My friend is having a party at the end of the month, we should go" Tyler's voice cut my thoughts.

"I'm in" Ellie said excitedly.

Wait a second.. end of the month? It's October, isn't it?

"Wait.. What's the date of today?" I asked hoping that my instinct is completely wrong.

"It's 16th of October" Kyle answered as it hit me hard.

Yeah, of course it is. How did I forget that?

"Why? Is there something wrong?" Kyle asked.

"No, nothing" I answered/lied.

"Ellie can you help me to the washroom?" I asked as I stood up.

"Yeah, sure" She said as I felt her hand holding mine. We walked silently to the washroom.

"It's today, isn't is? Her birthday?" Ellie asked once we got in.

"Y..Yes" I whispered as I was shaking.

I stretched my arm and started searching for the tap till I found it. I opened it and washed my face several times before I closed the tap again. I stood there in my place trying to get a grip of myself.

But suddenly I felt Ellie's arms wrap around me.

"It's going to be okay" She said with a soft sad voice as my eyes started tearing.

"It has been five years. I'm supposed to be over it by now" I said sadly as I felt a tear run down on my left cheek.

"You will. One day you will.. I promise" She said softly.

We stayed like that for a few minutes before I wiped my tears and held my shit together. Then, we went back to the cafeteria acting like nothing happened.

"Are you okay, girls?" Rach asked as we sat down.

"Yeah, we're fine" Ellie said normally.

"So, about the party..."Ellie started and I got back to my thoughts.

"Are you okay?" I heard Kyle whisper in my ear as I felt him wrap his arm around my neck softly pulling me closer to him.

"Yeah, I'm good" I said softly as I wrapped my arms around his torso and buried my face in his chest. His cologne calmed me down.

"Get a room, you guys" Tyler said jokingly.

"Shut up" I said sarcastically without moving as they laughed.

I really want today to go like a blink.. but we don't always get what we want.

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"Be quiet dad, you'll wake her up" I whispered/yelled at dad because he was making noise as he hung up the decorations.

"Sorry" He whispered/yelled.

"Breakfast is ready" Katie whispered/yelled as she came from the kitchen. I could smell the eggs and bacon but I hoped mum can't.

"Good" I said as I high-fived Katie.

After a few minutes dad finished hanging the balloons and decorations, so I high-fived him too. We went to the kitchen, put some candles in the cake we made last night after mum went to sleep and lit them.

Then we quietly went upstairs. We slowly opened the door and thankfully mum was still asleep. So, we counted to three and started singing 'happy birthday' in harmony till mum woke up. Once she processed what was going on she smiled widely.

♪Happy birthday to you♪ We finished.

"You know I love you guys, right?" She asked rhetorically with a wide smile.

"We love you too" We said union.

"Come on, make a wish" I said excitedly as I brought the cake near to her as I was the one holding it.

"Okay" She said excitedly as she straightened up. She closed her eyes for a moment before she blew the candles and opened them again.

"Happy birthday, mum" Katie said as she hugged mum. Dad took the cake from me and quickly went to put it in the kitchen.

"Thank you, Kitty" Mum said using her nickname to Katie.

"Happy birthday, mum" I said as I hugged her.

"Thank you, El" She said happily. Then Katie joined the hug.

"You should've waited for me, girls" Dad said dramatically once he came back.

"Come here" Mum said before dad joined the group hug too.

"Thank you guys. This would be one of my favorite mornings ever" Mum said happily as me, Katie and dad looked at each other and winked in success.

In a blink of an eye everything changed. We weren't in my parent's bedroom.. and we weren't hugging. Instead dad was standing on our front door talking to a police officer who was asking for mum. She was getting ready for work upstairs. Dad was trying to convince the police officer that there's something wrong but he wasn't listening.

"Honey, where is my.." Mum said as she came downstairs but stopped when she saw the police officer. I was standing in the kitchen but hidden behind the wall as I watched what was going on.

"W..what's going on?" Mum asked nervously.

"Are you Christina Macy Grace?" The police officer asked her.

"Y.. yes" Mum answered nervously.

"You're under arrest ma'am. You may stay silent cause anything you say can be taken against you" The police said strictly as he put cuffs on her wrists.

"No, you can't take her" I said/yelled as I came out from behind the wall.

"Elizabeth, go upstairs" Dad said strictly but I didn't care. I went towards them and stood between mum and the police officer.

"Mummy didn't do anything wrong. You can't take her" I said strictly.

"Sorry, kid" The police officer said softly before he pushed mum towards outside the house, pushing me away.

"What's going on? Where are you taking my mum?" I heard Katie yell.

"Dad, do something" I yelled at dad that was completely frozen. He looked at mum for a moment before his confused reaction turned into realization and shock. He took me and Katie and stood a step back allowing the police officer to take her.

"Daddy, no" Katie screamed as tears streamed from both of us.

"Daddy, don't let them take mummy" I yelled as I tried to get free of his grip.

Before they get mum in the car I was able to get myself free so I ran to her. I heard dad's voice calling my name but I was too focused on reaching her. I reached the car when she was in. I knocked hard on the window as I looked at mummy's blue eyes that were full of tears and.. regret.

"Mummy" I screamed.

"Don't take her, please" I begged them but they didn't care to listen.

"Don't take her, she didn't do anything" I screamed as the car started moving and I did too. I ran behind the car as it sped up. I ran as fast as I could. I ran ignoring the pain in my legs. I ran hoping that I would reach the car.. but I didn't.

I couldn't reach the car. I couldn't stop them from taking her. I couldn't do anything at all. So, I fell down on the ground.. crying and screaming on the top of my lungs.

"Elizabeth" I heard a familiar voice calling my name hardly. I opened my eyes widely to find myself screaming.

"It's okay, it's okay. It was just a bad dream" Kyle said softly as he wrapped his arms around me and pulled me to his chest. I put my hands on my face to find it wet with my tears.

The only problem is that it wasn't just a dream.. it was a memory. A very sad and painful memory that I will never be able to erase from my mind no matter how much I wanted and tried.