January 31st was a very special day in the Moran home. It was their youngest daughter's birthday, Lorraine. Usually, Lorraine and her older sister got to have a small party with a group of their friends, it was something Marie often looked forward to. Lorraine did as well but there was a difference between Lorraine and her sister Marie. Marie had a rather large crowd of friends, everyone wanted to be around her. Lorraine rarely had any friends, she was lucky to have one or two and really those were only people who weren't cruel to her and they simply took pity on her.

 Her parents often tried to distract her, to discourage her from having a party like Marie, so she wouldn't feel bad when no one came. But this birthday, her 13th birthday she wanted a party. One where she'd invite girls from her school, they'd come and have cake and things would be normal for her.

 Young Lorraine sat for hours outside her house on the stoop, just waiting for anyone to show up. Inside a cake and other treats awaiting any guests who did come though no one showed. Lorraine sat there nearly four hours before her parents finally told her she needed to come inside.

 Outwardly Lorraine tried not to show it bothered her, she still had cake and presents with her parents and sister. She tried to smile as they sang to her and she opened her gifts. But deep down Lorraine just wanted to fall apart and cry.

 She knew why the other girls stayed away from her, she knew they thought she was strange some even used the term spooky. But besides her gifts Lorraine truly was a normal young girl, no one ever got close enough to see that.

Later that evening Lorraine sat alone in the bedroom she shared with her sister. Marie wasn't there having snuck out after they had finished up her birthday. Lorraine was grateful her sister wasn't there because for the last hour she had been crying, crying until her eyes were red and puffy.

 She had been laying in the dark and sat up hearing a light knock and the light flick on, it was her father Robert. Seeing his daughter in such a state he tried to give a sad smile and walked over taking a seat on the bed beside her.

 As she usually did Lorraine curled at his side, his arm went around her and he gently stroked her shoulder to comfort her. She rested her head against him as he spoke. "It won't always be like this, I promise." He said and gently tilted her head up to look at him.

 "Listen to me Lorraine... one day you will find people... who will understand. And love you for you. One day... everyone will want to be your friend. And you'll have the pick of them all.. hm?" He said and smiled a little. Lorraine smiled a little through her tears though she wasn't sure that would ever be true.

 For most girls, it would be their mother comforting them but Lorraine had always been a Daddy's girl. Her mother wasn't exactly equipped to deal with emotions, least of all from Lorraine. "Did you enjoy your gifts?" Lorraine nodded and the rest of the evening was her and her father talking, him soon humming her to sleep. Once she was asleep he carefully tucked her in and left her to rest. That night thanks to her father Lorraine's dreams were filled with the ideas he had left her with. That one day she'd find someone to understand, to love her, and friends. It comforted her and kept her asleep throughout the night. It was the happiest part of her birthday.