Breathe in.

This is a story about the briefity of life, and how it passes by in just a breath. It shows how our desires change and grow over time. Each paragraph is an age, and each paragraph showcases a desire that is like a birthday wish. From age three, to the end of the girl's life.


Breathe in.
Look at the candles. Three in all. Blow them out, don’t let sissy try. She’ll spit on the cake. Yummy cake. Chocolate cake? Let’s find out. Stick hand in cake? Yes. Then we’ll know, and mommy will give it to me and sissy. It’s chocolate cake. It’s very good. Mommy looks mad. Oh no. I hope I’m not in trouble.
Breathe out.

Breathe in.
Look at the candles. Six in all. Look around the room. There’s Bekah, she’s wearing a pink princess dress. It’s prettier than mine. Mine is purple, but I like pink best. Sabrina’s dress is green. It’s got an ugly white bow on it. The cake has a princess wearing purple though, just like me. Maybe purple is best after all. Yes, I think I like purple best after all. Maybe the inside of the cake will be purple, too.
Breathe out.

Breathe in.
Look at the candles. Ten in all. I’m a big girl now, double digits. Being ten will be exciting. My cake has flowers on it. I made them myself. Mommy helped, and hers look better than mine, but I still like them. There’s even a frog jumping on my cake! He’s a cute frog. Maybe this year I will be tall enough to go on the Lily Pads at the swimming pool. I hope so.
Breathe out.

Breathe in.
Look at the candles. 14 in all. Middle school is boring, but there’s a cute boy in my math class who smiles at me. I told Sabrina about him, and she thinks he like me. She also said he’s on the basketball team. Oh, I wonder if he likes me?
Breathe out.

Breathe in.
Look at the candles. 16 in all. The cake has a picture of a car on it; the car Mom will buy for me if I get all As this semester. I know I will, but I’m nervous about my Algebra grade. Mrs. M is a stickler.
Breathe out.

Breathe in.
Look at the candles. 18 in all. I’m done with high school in a month, and I’m off to college. College sounds scary. I’m going to the same school as my boyfriend, Brett. I look over at him, and he’s smiling. *Sigh*
Breathe out.

Breathe in.
Look at the candles. 20 in all. I feel so old, and I don’t like it. I thought I had my life all figured out, but man oh man was I off. I transferred schools after the first semester. Brett and I only lasted two months at college, before he dumped me for some stupid Freshman. Oh well. I’ll find someone new, someday.
Breathe out.

Breathe in.
Look at the candles. 25 in all. I glance over at my fiancée. He’s smiling. It reminds me of years past, and beaus past. How stupid it all seems, the drama we went through. The heartbreaks and aches. I’m glad I found the one. But he’s going off to war, I hope he’ll be all right…
Breathe out.

Breathe in.
Look at the candles. 31 in all. The baby’s crying, and I might too. Mom’s trying to comfort her, but she won’t stop. I look over at my toddler, as she swipes a bite of frosting. Oh, I’m too tired to discipline. George will do it later. I just want to enjoy this while it lasts.
Breathe out.

Breathe in.
Look at the candles. 42 in all. George, please take away Alexis’s cell phone. She’s texting that boy again. I just want a family night for once. Why is this so hard to get? George, Frances is playing on his Gameboy under the table. Can’t you make him behave for five minutes? I want a quiet evening.
Breathe out.

Breathe in.
Look at the candles. 48 in all. Both my babies grew up and left me. Alexis never calls from college. I told Frances to write, I even bought him stationary and stamps. He doesn’t. I don’t want to lose them, I need to hear from them.
Breathe out.

Breathe in.
Look at the candles. 52 in all. Alexis asked me to go wedding dress shopping with her. I could hardly believe it when she called me up! But George isn’t so happy. We’ve only met her fiancée once, when they visited for Christmas. Lord, I hope he’s an honorable man that will take care of my little girl.
Breathe out.

Breathe in.
Look at the candles. 57 in all. Oh, little Chelsea got into the cake frosting. I can’t tell her no though, she’s so sweet. Alexis grabbed her. Frances is laughing, his girlfriend is too. It’s so nice having the family all together, but the visits are few and far between. I want the family to be closer.
Breathe out.

Breathe in.
Look at the candles. 63 in all. Alexis called me on the phone today. Chelsea ran away from home. Oh, the poor dear. I don’t like the way she dresses at all. It’s all dark and scary, and even in pictures she rarely smiles. I wish she’d get over this phase and come home, poor Alexis is trying so hard.
Breathe out.

Breathe in.
Look at the candles. 69 in all. I don’t think I can blow them all out at once. There are just so many, is this really how I should be wasting my breath? It’s so scarce already. Chelsea says she’ll help me. I smile, she’s such a nice girl when she comes to visit. Her little baby is very cute, but she won’t introduce me to her husband. In fact, I never even got wedding pictures…
Breathe out.

Breathe in.
Look at the candles. 75 in all. George is gone. Oh, how I miss him. Oh! I can’t bear it. Alexis and Frances comfort me, but it’s not the same. Oh, George.
Breathe out.

Breathe in.
Look at the candles. 81 in all. This home is lonely. Everyone here seems so old. But, yes, a visitor! Chelsea, and she’s brought little Andrea. Oh, the sweetheart brought me a puzzle! Maybe they’ll stay a while and help me put it together.
Breathe out.

Breathe in.
Look at the candles. 89 in all. The world is getting fuzzy, my eyesight is leaving. A boy came to visit today, he’s very young. I called him Frances, and he looked scared when I did. My little boy… why are afraid? Oh, my little boy, come close to me!
Breathe out.

Breathe in.
Look at the candles. 95 in all.
Breathe out.