Quantum Obsession | 18+

Naisha

"Make a good birthday wish, my dear!" My grandmother, stands by the table, carefully arranging the candles. Her long silver hair tied in a bun.

" C'mon baby, do it " She encourages me again, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

It's my 18th birthday finally.

The room is adorned with colorful streamers and balloons, and the scent of vanilla cake fills the air.

I grin, looking at the beautiful arrangements they had made.

Across the room, my aunt and my childhood best friend, Aditi , are busy preparing the dishes, giggling as they keep on recounting stories from my childhood.

"Remember that time we tried to bake cookies and ended up with a kitchen disaster?" Adi laughs, her voice ringing with fondness.

She has been my best friend since kindergarten, a bubbly chatterbox.

" Don't remind that " I snort with laughter, while she nearly spills her iced tea.

"Honestly, Naisha," She gasps between giggles, wiping a tear, "you were a menace!"

" Me and menace ! Ohh please you were the real havoc " I roll my eyes.

" You were " she counter backs.

" No you "

" You were naughtier "

" But you were more troublesome "

" Okay, okay you two stop fighting liking little kids " Mami forces her hand wide stopping both of us.

And then starts narrating a story when I was a toddler.

I am trying to focus on their conversation, on the melt-in-your-mouth lemon vanilla cake Mammam has baked, on the familiar comfort of my loved ones surrounding me

But a strange goosebump is beginning to prickle at the edges of my awareness.

First I was ignoring the feeling

But now I can't.

It feels as if there's a subtle shift in the air,

A feeling of being observed, like the faint brush of silk against my skin.

" Also remember on her 10th birthday she brought 10 cats from outside crying she want to keep them all " My mami snickers hollering out in a bout of laughter.

" Yes and next morning her mama threw all of them out " Mammam shakes her head reminiscing the old time.

I love these people so much.

My people

I don't have my parents

But I've never felt that void because they have filled me with so much love.

I join in the laughter, but my thoughts are drifting.

There is a wierd feeling that envelops me, as if someone is watching me from a distance.

It isn't unsettling

rather,

it feels like a warm embrace,

a beautiful presence that makes my cheeks flush.

"Naisha, are you alright?" Adi's voice cut through my reverie, pulling me back to the celebration.

"You look a bit... dreamy," she teases, nudging me playfully.

"I'm fine! Just... thinking about my wish," I reply, my gaze wandering towards the window, hoping to catch a glimpse of the source of my enchantment.