The first thing that I saw was the bright sky through the glass sliding door. The wide grass field, the trees that border the field... it looks endless from where she stood. She remembers the first time she laid eyes on the scenery, she thought that one day, she wants to run on the field and... as Aki suggested, have a picnic.

Then Linden turned and she was forced to face the wall. Ahead is the way to downstairs, where whenever she took a peek all these days before - dark, gloomy, and scary.  

But something changed.

The hall though still looked gloomy, it was no longer as dark and scary as before.  

I soon found the answer to it. 

A wide and clear window glass attached to the roof above the staircase showered the cramped hall with its blinding light. The sound of birds soaring above the sky could be heard.

My mouth agape and my eyes unlinked for several seconds before Linden covered my eyes with his hand. 

"Don't look too long, your eyes will hurt," he said softly. 

"It's not so bad now is it, my little owl?"

I blink with disbelieve. 

"After we successfully added the glass door, your mother and I started renovating several parts of the house. Considering this is an old house and has so few windows..." he chuckles. 

I planted my face to Linden's chest. 

A build-up starts to rise up in my throat.

A dam is about to break its walls. 

My little hands grasp tightly to Linden's shirt.

"What's the matter, Channa?"

I rub my face on his shirt. How can I admit to him that I am touched by his and Aki's effort? The thing they had done so far further proved that they love me - their child as much. How much longer should I trap myself in that small room? The pain and fear are nothing in this new world. I've been given a second chance in life. In its truest literal meaning.

A reincarnation with a supposedly clean slate and white canvas. And instead of cheap beginner tools, I am given a used rich tool to paint this canvas. 

"You finally made it here," Aki's voice beamed with pride and happiness. 

I turned my head to look at her face but was met with a very bright light that radiates the entire floor - a light that shone from very wide foldable panels with black panes. Compared to what I had seen through the sliding glass upstairs, the view of the sky and the grassland has expanded miles and miles away.

It was as if the theater screen has changed its lenses. 

In front of that panel is Aki, smiling so widely and expectantly too. 

"I know that you can do it," she said congratulating me. "Come, we need to celebrate this joyous day!"

Linden brings me near the small table that is filled with cakes and snacks, plates and cups, and hats.

"Isn't our little owl so cute? I'm doing a great job picking this dress right?" Linden asked hoping for compliments from his dear wife.

"Yes, you are, and thank you, love," she kissed him. 

Linden giggled sheepishly and carefully transfer y fragile body to Aki. 

My eyes still lingered on the table. Especially at the cake with hand-drawn letters that I can barely make out. A candle was stuck on the cake.

My birthday cake.

I'm officially a one-year-old child. 

"Channa..."

I looked up at my parents' faces. They are smiling so wide that my heart thumped.  A crimson flushed coloured my cheeks. 

"Happy birthday."