Chapter 9 - A Welcoming Surprise

A few weeks have passed since Leo has been admitted in the hospital it hasn't been lonely for him since Diane and his family has been visiting him

Today is a special day for Leo, it his birthday, He hasn't said anything to his family but he is expecting a gift today, his family visits him everyday in the morning, they check up on him and chats with him from time to time

While they were chatting Leo was twiddling his thumb expecting his parents to give him a gift or maybe they'd throw a party for him but they quickly leave as they quickly came.

He felt sad that he didn't receive anything nor was his birthday celebrated, he even tried to question them on what today is expecting them to answer it's his birthday but they left before Leo question was answered

Diane came next in the afternoon, he felt hopeful that maybe his friend, Diane, might give him a gift, Diane came in with a box, Leo expected it to be a gift, he was happy that he was actually able to get a gift

"Is that a gift for me?" Leo questioned trying to hide his smile

"Sort of, It's your birthday today isn't it?" Diane replied as she hands over the box to Leo

"Be careful with it, don't shake it around" Diane added

Leo slowly opens the box to reveal a cupcake with pink frosting and one small candle, he was expecting something more but it's better than nothing

Diane takes out a lighter and ignites the candle

"Happy birthday, Leo, sorry this is all I could afford right now" Diane said

"It's fine" Leo replied

"You can blow out the candle now" Diane added

Leo smiles awkwardly and blows out the candle, he didn't even think of wish, he already lost hope, he cant think of anyone else that could give him a gift, he just wants the day to end already

"I was wondering as well, Leo" Diane said

"What is it?" Leo replied

"Well, about your injuries, It always makes you really injured whenever an attack comes your way" Diane said

"Ever since I was a child I get hurt easily, Me and my parents don't even know why" Leo said whilst looking down at his twiddling thumbs

"It was a family gathering, We always have one every year so it was annual, I was and only child, I didn't have anyone to play with, you wouldn't know how happy I was when people would come over

"Me and my cousins would play on the grass, we would play hide and seek, chase and any kind of games that we would think of, we were playing tag and I was it, I was chasing someone I was on the verge of catching them but what I didn't know that someone was about to trip me

"It was supposed to be a harmless a prank but it didn't work that way, I tripped face first into the ground and I ended up unconscious, the next thing I know I was admitted in the hospital with a fractured jaw and a concussion, when I got discharged, my parents would go to different doctors and experts but they couldn't find anything" Leo explained

"I'm so so-----" Diane gets cut off with the sound of a ringtone

Diane grabs her phone from her bag and gave an excuse

"I need to go, I have a really important appointment" Diane said as she heads towards the door

"Sorry about that, Happy birthday again" Diane said as her head peaks through the door as she leaves

Leo was now really bummed out, he thought that maybe he could at least chat with someone but they left before they could, time passes and night has come, a doctor came into his room and told him that he was discharged and free to go

"How about my ride home?" Leo said

"Don't worry I contacted your mom" said the doctor

Leo walks to the front of the hospital, and gets picked up his mom, as they drive home Leo asked a question

"Hey mom, it's my birthday today" Leo said softly

"Oh, I'm sorry honey but ever since you got admitted to the hospital, we didn't have the time to throw a party" Leo's mom replied

"It's fine" Leo said with a depressed voice, he was really expecting something special to happen today

Leo looks outside the passenger side window and watches the sky and stars as they drive to their way home, after some time, they've arrive at their home, they parked outside and Leo hops off the car

"Honey, you can go on ahead, I have things to get from the car" Leo's mom said

Leo walks to the door expecting nothing more other than a dimly lit room and his dad, he slowly opens the door and see's nothing as he lets out a sigh of sadness, but before he could step inside, the lights flicker on and he hears a loud noise

"Surprise!" A bunch of voices shouted

Leo looks around and saw Diane, her family, and his dad with a fully decorated house and food on the table, he was getting teary eyed but before he could actually cry, Diane said something

"Is this really enough to make you cry" Diane teased Leo

"No...." Leo said with a jittery voice

Leo turned around to see his mom holding a large cake with candles

"Honey, could you help with this? it's kinda heavy" Leo's mom said jokingly

"Here let me help" said Leo

They then head inside, Leo tried to hide his smile and play it cool, he thought he was doing well but he actually had the biggest smile compared to anyone in the room, Leo's parents and Diane's didn't really know each other so they used this opportunity to do so

They spent the night having fun, for Leo this was the greatest thing that he could've asked for