It had happened so long ago. The night had been so quiet...so damned calm. She had been curled up in her own daybed that night. She'd only been six...but oh-so afraid...
She'd crawled from the bed and slipped quietly down the hall of the large mansion, heading for her parents' room, though she knew they'd be asleep. The room was dark, and the air had an odd coppery smell. She stretched to flip on the lights, and after having done so, twisted around to face her parents' large bed. The first thing she noticed was the blood on the walls. It looks so oddly artistic...and frightening.
Then she saw them...enterlocked on the bed. The sheets had been ripped away, but the only thing she saw was that knife...the weapon that had so bruttally murdered the happy couple was buried deep within her mother's back.
That was all she remembered. What happened next remained a mystery. How she came to the ship, she didn't know...she didn't want to know...
That had been twenty years ago...On her most sacred day...her birthday. She had just turned six...
Now the memory began to surface again, as it had every year. But somehow she'd kept it hidden from them...She wouldn't let Jenna and Christian see her break down. But oh how she wanted to just curl up and cry...Or make the memories fade...but she couldn't, so she tried to stand tall.
But she couldn't help wondering...Was she safe? Was her family? Would Christian and Jenna see the same fate she had? No....she thought...They wouldn't...she wouldn't let them.
Friday was the dreaded day. The 20th anniversary of that fateful night. Her 26th birthday.
Happy birthday to you...Happy birthday to you...Happy birthday dear Stefanie...
The words rang in her ears, bring back floods of tears as she once again curled up in bed alone.
Happy birthday to....me....