4
Two days after Christmas was Amber’s
birthday.
And how did I know? Well, she’d personally
invited me to her birthday bash, that’s how.
When I drove up the winding road to the
house on the hillside, they were shooting off
fireworks.
The booming sounds were like explosions, the colorful lights raining down from the sky like liquid gold. The house was filled with the
sounds of laughter and voices.
L
Amber, wearing a birthday hat, was the center
of attention, surrounded by Mark’s friends.
She closed her eyes and made a wish.
Someone playfully tried to smash cake in her
face, but Mark stopped them.
He held her close, gently taking the party
streamers from her hair, teasing them to stop
goofing around.
“Hey, you guys, my girl’s all about her looks,
so play nice.”
His words were like a comedy cue and
everyone immediately started teasing.
く
“Awww, look at how protective Mark is of
you!”
ME
T
E
“Little lady, what are you going to do to thar
Mark tonight?”
Amber blushed at the jokes, sneaking a peek
at Mark.
I didn’t hear what Mark whispered into her
ear, but I did see her hide her face against his
chest.
As I watched this big celebration, I couldn’t
L
help but think of my own birthday this year,
which I spent all alone.
Mark had promised to come home early that
day to celebrate with me.
So, I had turned down the party that my girls
had organized for me.
I had waited at home, all by myself, until my
birthday was almost over. I’d finally called
Mark.
The phone just rang and rang, no answer.
And then, finally, he picked up, and I heard
Amber whining that she didn’t want to play
<
nurse anymore, and Mark’s sleepy voice, and
a rustling, like a wrapper being ripped open.
My hand squeezed my phone so tightly, I thought it might crack. It felt like my heart was made of glass, shattered, and my whole body was being pierced with a thousand
darts.
LO
