Eight Thousand Sunsets

PROLOGUE: PART 1

The sun was scorching hot during my mother's pregnancy. It was the longest heatwave since the 1930s. During this season, my dad worked at a travel agency. And on my mom's 7th month, he was given a plane ticket to Greece for two as a bonus.

It was Springtime in Attica, Greece. Clutching her sun hat on one hand and her womb on the other, my mother closed her eyes as the spring winds touches her face. flustered, My father looked at the overlooking sea and thought why he never had a chance to travel when he was younger. How amazing it is that he brought his family to this paradise. Even in his wildest dreams, he never thought he could be this happy.

They stayed in a town called Megara, almost an hour drive from Athens International Airport. They stayed in a cabin called Apollo's Lair. The owner, an old lady, smiled at the two lovers entering her den. A man approached and asked my parents what they need.

"We need a room to stay for a week, Sir" My father said, fanning himself using his hat.

"We have plenty of rooms available for you." Said the man. He reached through his pocket and gave a set of keys to my dad. "Room 514."

"Thank you, Sir."

As my father took the luggage to their room, the old woman asked while looking at my mother's womb, "What is her name?". My mother noticed the woman's eyes for the first time. It was white. She was blind. Probably a cataract gone bad.

"How did you know, ma'am?" My mother asked, curious about the old woman who's beautiful and serene despite her age.

"I might be blind, child. But I can hear her giggles." The old woman smiled. Her perfect set of teeth showed. My mother was shy for a minute, "We still don't know the gender. But I do hope you're right. I hope it's a girl."

"Oh it will be a girl." The old lady winked. My mother felt a chill ran down through her spine. The old woman was gentle but cunning. My mother dismissed the thought. After all, she was pregnant.

"I must go now. It's been a long day and I should rest. My back ache from all the walking." My mother said.

The old lady nodded. He reached out to pat my mother's womb and whispered, "Be careful."

PROLOGUE: Part II

May 13, 1993. It was raining so hard in Megara. My parents are here for two weeks. They've learned that the old lady was named Cassandra, and the young man, who's with her was named Jigsaw. My father was grateful because Cassandra let them stay for free, in exchange for some accounting help.

My Father is a good man. He came from a humble Jewish family in Poland, but they had to go to America to flee the holocaust. He had my grandmother's kind eyes that resembles a melted onyx. It complements his full cheeks and his bushy eyebrows.

That night, my father's pale & thin lips are pressed together. He's walking back and forth from the door to the bed, where my mother is sleeping. Something is not right. Something felt awful. The power was out and he can't hear anything except the thunderstorm. 

"We've been here for two weeks," my father mumbled, "but I didn't see a single soul aside from us."

My father was trying to put the pieces back together. Something was not right. Something felt awful. Suddenly, there was a loud thunder and the window broke open, letting the cold air in.

Without any repercussions, my mother screamed. The door was suddenly wide open. My father was still trying to piece everything together. What is happening? 

Cassandra walked in. She's wearing a long, red coat, with the hood on her head. She's holding a candle. 

"It's time." Cassandra said, it sounded like a decision. It sounded final. My father's pupils are dilated. What is happening? He can hear Cassandra's voice despite my mother's screams.

Jigsaw came in and in one swift motion, he carried my mom out of the room. My father followed. 

They went inside a dark room. All of the candles began to light up. Everything is so surreal, my father thought he's losing his mind. There's nothing in the room except a long table made of stone. It looked like an altar. The ceiling was made of glass. 

Jigsaw put my mother on the altar. My father ran to her side and held her hand. He don't know what to say. "It's coming." My mother said. The contractions are stronger than what she expected. It's not supposed to hurt like this.

Cassandra began chanting. "The storms shall pass by midnight and the sun will shed his glory. Long he had waited for this offer. Long may he reign."

"I- I don't understand." My father stuttered.

"The storms shall pass by midnight and the sun will shed his glory. Long he had waited for this offer. Long may he reign."

"Stop. S- Stop!" My father tried to stand up, but Jigsaw put his hand on his shoulder and he immediately felt powerless. His tongue felt numb and he can't speak. 

"The storms shall pass by midnight and the sun will shed his glory. Long he had waited for this offer. Long may he reign."

Tears began to well on my father's eyes. What is happening? He knew something will happen. He felt it the day my grandmother died. He knew something terrible will happen.

"The storms shall pass by midnight and the sun will shed his glory. Long he had waited for this offer. Long may he reign."

My mother screamed. She felt pain everywhere. It's burning everywhere. Jigsaw touched her womb, the altar suddenly felt cold. She felt cold.

"The storms shall pass by midnight and the sun will shed his glory. Long he had waited for this offer. Long may he reign."

At midnight, two screams are heard as the light swallowed the glass ceiling. 

My mother had her last scream.

I had my first.

It was May 14, 1993.

Chapter 1:

When I was born, Dad said the sun rose for 3 straight days. All continents - regardless of the timezone - basked in the sun's glory. It was mortifying for everyone, I figured. My Dad said the universe is celebrating my birth through endless sunshine. That's why he named me Sun. Very creative.

Today is my 18th Birthday. The evenings are shorter in the last 18 years. Dusk starts at 8PM and the sunrise starts at 4AM. The news are always about the effects of plastics and technology to shorter nights. They said that by the year 2020, we will no longer have nighttime. 

I hate birthdays. It makes me sad for no reason at all. When my mom died, it was only me and my dad. We went back to the US with no baggage and a whole lot of cash - which, as my father insisted, was a gift.

We used to live in Florida, but my dad decided that we should move out because everything reminds us of mom. Even if we moved to Georgia, we still find it hard to water down mom's memories. I think that's what losing someone is like. The sadness lingers for a very long time.

We moved to a city called Savannah. It's a quiet city. Everybody knows everybody in their neighborhood. The seasons are not as brutal as the other states and my dad was running his own tour business.

"Happy Birthday, Mon Amie!" Dad came in to my room without knocking. He was holding a birthday cake, with big candles and ugly frosting. "Now make a wish!"

I know that my wish won't be granted but I'm still wishing for my mom. I closed my eyes and think about mom's photos before blowing the weeping candle. My dad kissed me on the forehead. "Look at you," he said, "your mother will be so proud".

I half-smiled. I wanted so bad to say "but she's dead" but I figured that's a very immature thing to do. "you can invite your friends over, I'll cook steak and Sernik. And we have this American cake.", my dad mused.

"The frosting is supposed to be cream-colored, not pink!" I said, laughing.

"Ah! What can I do, M'ija? Polish dishes are better", he winks.

Because of the tour business, my dad was using different languages in conversations. It's awful. I sighed, "Lemme see what I can do".

My dad kissed me on the forehead one last time before heading out the door. He left the cake on my bedside table. I dip my fingers on the frosting and put it in my mouth. It's ugly but it's good.

My bedroom was sort of the house's "Attic" with a balcony made by my dad so I can see the Savannah views anytime I want. As I was about to take a shower, I noticed a man standing on the lawn. He's wearing a dark brown suit, his hands on both of his pockets. He's staring straight at my room.

I went to my room's balcony to get a closer look. His blonde hair was tied on a bun. His eyes are blue, but I'm not sure what shade of blue. Maybe deep blue or see blue I have no idea. He looked like he's in his mid to late twenties. There's something light about him. He seems like he's one of those people you'll get along with so well, the first time you hang out.

"hey." I said, I find my self waving my hand. He doesn't say anything. "Umm, today is my birthday!"

He smiled. 

"What's your name?" I asked.

"They call me Phoebus." He said. His voice sounds like a lyre. I feel like I'm glorifying this stranger. Upon realizing this, I held my head high and cleared my throat.

"Nice to meet you Phoebus. You have an awkward name" I said. He smiled, removed his left hand from his trouser's pocket and looked at his watch.

"You too, Sun. Happy Birthday." He said and he left. I felt my ears ringing and hot. Out of sheer shock, I responded by shouting at the top of my lungs. "You can join us tonight if you want! Dad makes a damn good Sernik and I'm inviting my friends over!!!" he raised his right hand after a few seconds, indicating that he heard me.

"What are you doing?" My dad popped out of the front porch. Embarrassed, I put my hand down. "Nothing. I was just practicing." I said as I went back to my room.

"Well I'm happy to know that you think my Sernik is so good, it's damned!"

What the hell? 

Who in their right mind invites a complete stranger to her birthday party? and more than anything else, how the hell did he know my name? I looked at myself in my bedroom's mirror. I just showered and put on my birthday clothes. I sighed. I looked very Jewish - Black hair and bushy eyebrows. I got my eyes from my Dad's, they're onyx and doe. My nose is just okay, I guess. Freckles scattered around my cheeks.

I put a lot of effort in trying to fix my hair. They're frizzy today and they're sticking out everywhere. I gave up after a while. I sighed, today is supposed to be a good day, Sun. I got my mint green trench coat and went out of my room.

"Bye, Papa"

"Adios, Birthday girl!"

I gave him a flying kiss. He acted like he's catching it.

"Happy Birthday!" 

Madeline and Parker popped out of nowhere, holding a birthday cake. This is my second birthday cake today. Tomorrow, I think I'll get a diabetes.

"Thank you, you guys!" I said. I meant it. Maddie and Parker are my tribe since kindergarten. They've been my only friends ever since.

"Please tell me your Dad is making that cheesecake again"

Madeline Bisset. She's French, but she grew up in the US. I'm still trying to figure out why we're friends. Maddie is way beyond pretty. She's stunning. When you're looking at the moon and it's beauty creeps you out? That's her type of stunning. It's blinding. Her light blonde hair is long and wavy. Her face is very chiseled, it looks like it was carved out of ivory. Her eyes are light gray, with a certain depth when you looked at it. 

"Yeah, he's making Sernik again" I said, "Are you free for dinner at home?"

"Of course we are!"

Parker Jones. He's Savannah born and raised. He's the first kid to play with me when I was younger. A year or two before Maddie came in. The moment he figured out he's gay, he went unannounced to my room and hugged me really tight. Like me, he's half Jewish. But unlike me, his hair falls into the proper places, his eyes are hazel and I swear to god they sparkle when he's talking.

The day is long and dragging. Today is a normal day, indeed. By the time we're done with the last period, we've had enough for the day.

"Ugh I can't wait to eat three slices of that cheesecake!" Maddie said, fanning herself with her Math notebook.

"Can you believe the essay assignment we have for English Class? They're killing us!" I said, still trying to fix my hair.

"Well, Parker's here." Maddie butted in. Parker is the smartest among us. He and Maddie always races to the top. I'm just an average student. As much as possible, I'm trying to solve stuff on my own despite their kindness. I even pull an all-nighter for that goddamn Calculus assignment that only took Parker and Maddie 30 minutes to solve.

I smiled. We're heading home to celebrate my birthday. 

Our home smelled like a bakery and it warms my heart so much. the past 18 years haven't been good to me but I'm looking forward to this every year. My dad's efforts, my friend's greetings, and that glimmer of hope that something good is yet to come.

I helped my dad in the kitchen. Maddie and Parker went upstairs to my room. I'm glad that they feel at home here. My dad always says that they're the kids he never had. 

We were about to get the Sernik out of the oven when the doorbell rang. My dad looked at me like I'm crazy. "What are you looking at, Mi'ja? Maybe it's your uncle Freddie!"

Uncle Freddie's my dad's first cousin. He and his family regularly visits when there's something we're celebrating. It's not that I'm not happy to see them but I thought it might be the man from earlier. I only have a few friends - two to be very specific - adding someone to my circle is just as good as it's gonna get--

"Hello, there."

What the actual fuck? I feel my ears ringing, blood rushing to my head.

"I hope I'm not late."

"It's the man on the lawn!" I shouted, regretting it afterwards. He's wearing a white shirt and a leather jacket. Blue jeans and a pair of black Vans. His golden hair is still tied on a bun. 

My dad peeped out of the kitchen. "You never told me that you have some fine man coming!" He shouted, I can feel my face getting redder.

"Come on in, Mister..."

"Phoebus."

"Fetus. Right. What an awkward name." My dad was patting the guy on the back and I can't help but be more and more embarrassed. Phoebus didn't even correct my dad. He smiled though.

"Flowers for the Birthday Girl." He said after sitting down at the table. He handed me a bouquet of cotton and lavender, wrapped in brown wax paper and tied with brown twine. It's not the world's standard of pretty but it's beautiful to me. "Thank you" was all I said.

As I was about to sit in front of him, Maddie came rushing down the stairs. Phoebus' - his back on the stairs - tilted his head back and his eyes widened. Maddie stared back and half-smiled, her gray eyes glistening like the moon. I was staring at them in awe. Two beautiful human beings. 

"Phoebus." He said, following her with his eyes as she walked down the stairs slower.

"Madeline." She said. For once, Maddie doesn't look like 18 to me. It seems like she matured. It seems like she's the same age as he is.

"Parker." Parker came out of nowhere. "Nice to meet you, pretty boy."  He said. "Pleasure to meet you too, Parker." Phoebus smiled.

Both of my friends sat down on the table. My dad came out with the Steak and Sernik. While they're singing the Happy Birthday song, I finally got the chance to see the color of Phoebus' eyes. It's blue. four different shades of blue. It's warm but it has the capacity to be icy. It's soaring in the sky and drowning in the sea at once. 

It's the kind of blue that I like.