The sun's light rays glimmered unto Rina's bed as she slept, and slowly, the sun rose into the sky. She sat up in bed, tired, her arms tangled into the blanket, and opened her eyes slowly.

      "Surprise!!!"

      A bustling crowd of all her closest friends and family members were pushed around her bed. Rina could only laugh as she saw the gifts and cake they had got for her. "Oh my gosh! Thank you guys so much! I couldn't have asked for a better 16th birthday!"

      Her eyes scanned across the room looking for the one face that she knew would not be there. And as much as he wanted her dad to be possibly "hiding" at the back of the crowd to surprise her, she knew he wasn't. Rina looked at her mom's face, trying to hide her disappointment. Her mom looked at her sadly, and Rina knew that her dad was away on business. She knew her family was poor and that they depended on her dad's job for money, but she wondered if he could've stayed home just for today.

      However, she pushed these feelings to the back of her head, seeing all these happy faces. Layla, one of her best friends, said, "You should definitely open your presents! You are gonna love what I got you!"

      "No way!" Ana, her other best friend, teased. "Because mine is way better than yours!!" Rina laughed playfully, and jumped out of bed, ready for the best day of her life. 

      "Come on, you guys! There's gonna be no fighting on my birthday! Now, why don't you guys wait outside and I'll be there in a flash!" Happily, everyone cleared the room except for her mother, who lingered at the door. "Honey, your dad did try to be here. But with our financial problems, he had to leave..."

      "Mom!" Rina exclaimed as she dashed into her small bathroom, her black straight hair waving behind her. Her mom stood helplessly by the doorway to the room, and, deciding that Rina needed some time alone, shuffled out to the living room.

      Once Rina had heard her mother close the door gently, she decided that it wasn't her mother's fault. Rina made a mental note to apologize to her mom later, and started to brush her teeth. With each stroke of the brush, she reminded herself that today was a happy day, the best day of her life! She was going to become a woman! She was growing up! She was going to learn how to drive! As she brushed her hair, her head was completely clear of every negative thought she was thinking of.

      Even her dad not being there.