“She knows.” That was the text I received from my cousin three hours before we were supposed to surprise his wife on her fortieth birthday. Forty people. Catered food. A venue booked two months in advance. A slideshow with photos going back to her childhood. She knew. Not because of the venue. Not because of … Read more
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