It was 11:59 PM on a Tuesday. I was lying in bed, the cold blue light of my phone screen illuminating my face in an otherwise pitch-black room. My thumb was mindlessly scrolling when it happened. A notification popped up in the family group chat: a single cake emoji. My heart did a tiny somersault. … Read more
It is 11:58 PM. You are lying in bed, the blue light of your phone screen illuminating your face in an otherwise pitch-black room. Suddenly, it hits you. It’s their birthday in exactly two minutes. You want to be the first one to say something, but your brain is currently a blank slate. You don’t … Read more
I remember my brother’s 30th birthday like it was yesterday. We were all gathered in the living room, the cake was glowing with enough candles to be seen from space, and the room went quiet for the “speech.” I stood up, cleared my throat, and instead of a long, emotional tribute, I simply said, “Congratulations … Read more