“Happy Birthday to...” by Madelyn M

     Birthdays... Only come once a year they do. The one day out of the whole year that’s supposed to be yours. A day that’s meant solely to celebrate you and your existence in this world. Yet it’s a day I’ve grown to loathe that’s brought me more anxiety and sadness as each one passes. Another year of my life gone in what feels like a second, flashing like a camera right before my eyes. Yet I think to myself, what do I have to show for it? I’m turning 17 this year but nothing feels different other than the fact that I now have a new number to answer specific questions with. Mother has decided to throw me a party even though I really didn’t want one, but the look of excitement on her face when she threw the idea out to me left me unable to reject her.So here we are, Mother with a giant smile plastered on her face welcoming her guests, Father in the back hanging out with whoever has already arrived, Brother in the living room being coddled by grandparents, and I left to figure out where to spend the rest of the evening without bothering anyone.​ I wish this day was over​. When the guests attempt to conversate with me I promise I try my best to engage, but it eventually becomes too difficult and tiresome. I’m not trying to be rude and it’s not that I dislike you, but I dislike the setting. Are your questions even genuine? Or do you pity my lonesome being because this day is supposed to be all about me and you feel guilty if you don’t contribute? ​I wish this day was over.​ I don’t want to seem ungrateful so I’m trying to be upbeat like Mother when a guest is near. But I must not be doing a very convincing job because each time I get the same smile. A soft, affiliative one that I’m sure is done out of politeness. Would everyone act this way any other day out of the year towards me? I’m beginning to get more tired and the dark cloud is slipping through.​ I wish this day was over​. I just have to endure a couple more hours, then everyone will leave. The time will reach midnight and I’ll be able to peacefully close my eyes knowing I have more time to make things different before the next one. Just a few more hours until I have 365 more days to make something worthwhile happen so that the next one won’t feel so troublesome. ​I wish this day were over.Everyone’s busy and preoccupied outside at the moment so I’m finally granted some time alone.I’m craving something cheesy but that’s not on the menu for today’s party so I’ll have to be quick so as not to offend Mother and Father’s efforts on dinner. A grilled cheese should be sufficient, quick and easy. Get the cheese, the bread, the butter, and the pan. Turn on the stove and throw everything in. Done. I feel like I can now put up my own front a little while longeragain.​ I wish this day were over​. To the right, in the corner of the entryway is the small table Mother set up for the guests to place their gifts for me. I’m grateful no doubt, but I sincerely wish they hadn’t. Thankfully Mother agreed this year that she wouldn’t make me open them alli n front of her guests, for I believe she too feared I wouldn’t give sufficient reactions to each and every one. Even if I really meant to. All I have left to get through is that dreaded song that forces everybody’s eyes your way as a cake is placed before you and a candle is lit. A candle that expects a wish to be made as it’s blown out, it’s smoke carrying your thoughts out to the universe.​ I wish this day were over. ​Oh no... Mother is giving me that knowing glance. The time has come. If I make it past this everything will be over. I notice a strange smell and my head’s begun to hurt, but I can’t run now because it’s already too late. Father gathers everyone inside to join me as Mother holds my cake. They start the song, she places the dessert, and I’m ready to make my wish. Light it already please, for this one wish I wish every year and I need it to come true. Little birthday candle grant me this thing and this one thing only: that my birthday be over and I at peace... 

      As they had lit the young girl’s candle, on the last line of the song, her birthday wish came true. This would be the last celebration she’d have, last song sung to her, last wish she’d ever make, and last birthday she’d ever get to celebrate. That one little candle would be the last she ever saw. And she hadn’t got the chance to properly blow it out. 

     An hour later... 

    “Officer Brady! There you are, you're late!”

    “Sorry! I got caught up in traffic but I’m here now,” the arriving officer then turned to the tragic scene before him, “Geez, there hasn’t been an incident like this in ages. What happened here Detective?” 

    “A gas explosion, apparently no survivors. From what’s left of them it appears everyone was gathered in the one area we assume the match was lit.” 

   “Was it mass suicide then? What did the firefighters find?”

    “No, looks like it was an unfortunate accident. We asked around the neighborhood, luckily noone else besides those who were inside got hurt, but apparently there was a birthday party happening. From what we got, the family was celebrating their daughter’s 17th.” 

   “That’s horrible. Were we able to find out how the explosion happened? Like what caused it?”

   “Well among the rubble there was a burnt pan with what smelled like cheese on it. So we’re inferring that someone must have made something to eat and forgot to turn off the stove completely, hence the gas leak. Since it was a birthday party and everyone appeared to be gathered in one area, it was most likely time for the birthday cake.”

   “So it was the lighting of the candle then wasn’t it?” the officer replied glumly while the detective nodded in response, “a tragic last wish don’t you think?”

  “A tragic one indeed.” 

 

The End