Best birthday present

Chapter one hundred and eighty-three 

Vanessa woke up to the sound of a piano. She wondered where it was coming from, she could also hear a humming sound in the background. What was going on? Was she dreaming? Very slowly, she walked out of her room, tracing where the sound was coming from. Was someone calling her? It had been such a while since she heard the beautiful sound of a piano, and somehow she found it calling her. She found herself drawn to it. She thought that it could be a trap, but she found herself wanting to know where it was coming from. It was just a harmless sound. There was no way someone would want to trap her with a sound. She walked down the small stairs, she was barefooted, she hadn't even remembered to wear her slippers because of the sound. 

She could hear it closer, the closer she got to the sound, the better it sounded in her ears. She found herself appreciating every sound from the piano. When she eventually got to where the sound was coming from, her mouth flew open in surprise. The song that was being played was "Can't Help Falling In Love by Elvis Presley." It was Greg. How did he get in here so early in the morning? She felt tears welling up in her eyes. The moment she came face-to-face with him, he removed his hand from his back and handed her the most beautiful flower she'd ever seen in her entire life. She took it from him and smelt it, it smelled really nice. She wasn't the type to gush over flowers, but that changed when she met Greg. She was so used to getting flowers from him now, and she had to admit that she loved flowers. 

He removed a small box from his pocket and handed it to her. Vanessa wondered what the occasion was. Greg was so full of surprises. Had he done this because she'd asked him to stay over yesternight? She smiled at her perfect boyfriend and took the box from his hand. The moment she opened it, she gasped in surprise. It was a very beautiful emerald necklace. Vanessa couldn't hold back the tears that escaped from her eyes. There was a small note in the box. She took it out and opened it. It read;

"To Vanessa Smith, 

The moment you came into my life, I found myself lit up as a room glimmered with chandeliers and candles. You light up my world, Nes and you are the best thing that has ever happened to me. I might not say this often but, I love you, Vanessa. You make everything so easy for me. I love every moment we had, every single one of them. I want you to know that you are my favourite person in the whole wide world. You mean a lot to me, more than this pen and this note can express. Happy birthday, Vanessa. I love you more than love itself.

Greg,

Yours."

Vanessa had been crying since she began reading the note. She knew that Greg was a romantic guy, but she didn't know that he could make her so emotional with his words. She looked at him with tears in her eyes. She couldn't hold them any longer. She'd completely forgotten about her birthday. She knew that it had everything to do with Anna's absence. But amidst everything, Greg didn't forget. She didn't even know what to do as she stood, looking at him like he was the only existing thing in the world, her emotions getting the better of her.

"I have something else for you, Vanessa. Close your eyes." Vanessa did exactly as she was told and the moment she closed her eyes, tears streamed down her cheeks.

"You can open them now," Vanessa could not hide her shock. Was this what he was talking about when he said that he had a presentation tomorrow? Right before her eyes was the most beautiful painting she'd ever seen. It wasn't just any painting now, it was a painting of her, done by Greg. Vanessa was short of words. She'd always been a garrulous woman, but with Greg, she couldn't find that woman. He was the only man that was capable of rendering her speechless, every single time.

"You- You made this, Greg?" Vanessa asked and Greg nodded at her, smiling. 

"Do you like it?" He asked, watching her tear-filled eyes.

"Did you say like? Greg, I love it. It's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen in my life. Unable to hold it any longer, she closed the little distance between them and pulled him in for a very tight hug, restricting his airflow.