The Oracle

CHAPTER SEVEN: HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME

(Two years later...)

Synthia’s POV

It had been two years, well, to be exact, two and half years since I married Aiden, the man whom I loved from my childhood and still loved even if I hated to admit it. My life for the last two years had been good, even if it was not the happy married life I once believed I was going to have.

After making the decision of selecting Botany as my major, I focused my full energy on my studies. Since I joined an accelerated program, I completed the course in two years and graduated. I felt proud of myself for having found something in my life with which I could do some good. Focusing on my studies didn’t mean that I forgot those who helped me gain some semblance of sanity in my darkest hours. I still visited the old age home regularly and handled the affairs of the pack mates as a Luna should. It was just that I had found a passion to go through my studies so that I wouldn’t ever have free time to be reminded of the life that I missed with Aiden.

Now, since I completed my degree I am hoping to work as an ecologist and help solve environmental problems. Later on, I would love to complete PHD and take part in the research for finding a cure for cancer from medicinal plants. I felt that I could do something meaningful in my life other than just wishing to be loved by Aiden.

 Speaking of Aiden, at first, I avoided ever crossing paths with him and it was not as if he cared either way. But gradually, it became obvious that it was simply not possible given that I was handling the responsibilities of a Luna. And for that, it often required discussions with the Alpha. So, I decided that I just had to get over my petty feelings and deal with it. It was not as if I could just step down from my position since even if we were not having any marital relations, a divorce was simply not in the cards. The reason for me was that I loved him too much. Even if I knew that there was no hope for us and accepted it; I wanted to be his wife, at least in name. I was not ready to fully let him go. For him, it may have been because he was pressured by his Dad and he couldn’t just up and leave me without any valid reason such as him finding his true mate. Also, the pack needed the stability provided by me as a Luna, and even if he never acknowledged it directly; he knew I was doing well for the pack.

So, a few months after our marriage, I decided that I needed to stop hiding from his presence. I couldn’t just avoid him forever, and I had to toughen up and face him one day. So, when a pack member came to me for help with an issue which required a decision from the alpha, I decided to take the leap and face him in an official manner. To my surprise and relief, facing him was not too bad. Even though it hurt to see his gorgeous face after ages, I acted as if I was fine and just put on my business face. It was not as if I was immune to him but the pain was definitely lesser and I hoped that one day, I would get over him completely, but it would not be anytime soon. He was indifferent to me and just completed the formalities without even glancing twice at me. I crushed the disappointment and anguish which began forming in my mind at his indifference and reminded myself to be stronger than that. Since that day, it became a norm for us to involve in business matters like two strangers who had no relation between them whatsoever, and it worked fine with me. Well, that is what I was telling myself at least. In truth, I hated seeing those green eyes looking at me with indifference, but it was just his signature attitude towards everything related to me.

In the two years, my relation with my family and Sophie was better than the standstill we had after my marriage but I wouldn’t dare to say that everything was fine and exactly the same as before because truthfully, things were still awkward between us most of the times but time heals all wounds and hopefully, we would get back there soon. Some days, it was just as if everything was normal and nothing happened and we would laugh at shared jokes and secrets and other times, we would be wary of each other like some strangers. I guess we had our good days and bad days. Couldn’t blame them because I had turned bipolar on them and they didn’t know what exactly to expect from me.

It was my twenty-first birthday today. It would have been a special day had I been planning to enter nightclubs and indulge in drinking, and smoking since I could legally do so from now, but since I was not planning to do any of those, this day meant nothing special to me and was just like any other day. After the stunt I pulled on my nineteenth birthday, my family didn’t dare to throw any surprise party for my twentieth birthday and I didn’t expect anything to be different this year too.

I walked towards the Alpha’s office to discuss the matter of some complaints regarding the behavior of some pack warriors and saw Sophie coming from the other direction. I stopped walking and looked at her. Even though we had just met for the breakfast and lunch and everyone wished me a happy birthday, I was not in a talkative mood and just acknowledged their greetings with a nod without any enthusiasm. So, she was looking at me warily, trying to decide how she should deal with me now. My heart ached seeing my best friend who knew me like the back of her hand struggling to think of how to interact with me.

Finally, she smiled tentatively at me. 

"Do you remember what all plans we had for after both of us turned twenty-one, Synthia?  We dreamed of going to nightclubs to dance and drink showing off our IDs," she said.

Seeing that I was not responding, she sighed.

"I am so proud of you, Synthia. Despite everything, you found something you loved to do and completed your degree. I am proud of the strong woman you have become despite the pain you endured! I hope you know that," she said..

Sophie looked at me expectantly. "We all miss you, Synthia," she said and hesitated. 

"I miss you so much!" she continued.

I stood like a statue. "Happy birthday, Synthia..." she whispered at last.

We stood there looking at each other for a while, and then without saying anything, I turned and walked away.

Sophie stood there for a while with tears running down her face. Finally, she wiped her tears and walked away.

I stood watching her from behind the wall in the corner and tears fell from my eyes. I cursed myself for doing this to us. Even I didn’t know why this happened to us.

I closed my eyes and remembered the day I turned eighteen.

*FLASHBACK*

I was dancing with Aiden, the love of my life, I didn’t even have two left foot like I did usually and we were floating around gracefully. As the dance stopped and he was about to kiss me, we jumped apart fearing for the apocalypse when an earthquake occurred and we were forced apart. Everything distorted and fell away in shambles and I opened my eyes and glared at my maniac best friend who was shaking me violently with excitement twinkling in her eyes. I was having such a wonderful dream, and she spoiled everything!

“What!” I snarled in my usual 'I just woke up' lingo and minding no heed to the potential violence brewing in front of her, my stupid bestie began jumping up and down just like the big kid she was.

“Happy birthday, Synthia! Finally, you are eighteen!!”

Remembering that it was my birthday, a smile formed on my face and I pardoned her for the crime of interrupting my dream as well as sleep. This time, she had a valid reason.

She began pacing around the room shouting out plans for the day and opened the wardrobe and chose my outfit for the day. After I showered and wore the outfit, she curled my hair and applied makeup carefully on my face and examined it. Satisfied with her handiwork, she pronounced me ready.

We went for breakfast together and everyone wished me for my birthday and I was even lucky enough to get a birthday wish from my dream guy himself. I felt over the moon and the day went by with me in a jovial mood. My parents held my birthday party and invited the entire pack despite my protests, saying that it was not every day their only daughter turns eighteen and they deserved the right to celebrate. We danced, ate and had total fun and finally, in the night, Sophie sat in my room with me, excitedly opening the gifts I got.

 I squealed as I saw the book she gave me as a present. It was the next book in a series I was reading, and I had been waiting for it to release for a long time. So silly, but thoughtful. That was my best friend. My parents gave me a gold bracelet with diamonds, and my brothers bought me dresses. We opened gifts from everyone and finally; I saw the gift box from Aiden. I nervously opened the box and peeked inside. Seeing the Chanel perfume in the box, both of squealed together. Sophie began teasing me. 

"Looks like someone wants you to smell good!" she said.

I silenced her with a glare and hugged the perfume bottle. I was going to keep this bottle forever!

Sophie hugged me. "Now let’s wait till we both turn twenty-one. We have to show off our IDs and, as rightful legal citizens, walk into nightclubs and drink and dance our legs off. Oh Synthia! We are totally going to have a blast, just you wait!" she said.

*END OF FLASHBACK*

And that is how my eighteenth birthday night ended. It was just three years, but everything changed beyond repair. We were so carefree and full of hope. I missed how I didn’t have any worries then, and I missed the bond I had with my best friend. Oh, how I missed her. 

“I miss you so much, Sophie,” I murmured to myself.

I sighed and walked to the Alpha’s office. After knocking and hearing no response, I opened the door and greeting me was a sight which was the best birthday gift I could have ever received. There, in his office, stood my husband in the embrace of Gina, a girl who used to be a nuisance back in the days when I cared for such things.

I thought that I had gotten over Aiden. I thought he was not capable of hurting me anymore. I thought I had no more tears to spare for him, but tears kept on falling endlessly from my eyes as I backed away from the room.  I realized that I thought wrong when all the pieces of myself I kept together shattered again all over. Well, Happy Birthday to me!