Birthday Cake

Everyone forgot.

I tried to act like it didn't bother me. Worked my shift like normal. Smiled when I needed to. Took care of everyone else the way I always do. I answered the phone, drew the labs, updated the patients, and talked to the doctors. I tried to stay busy just to distract myself from the hurt I was feeling.

But there's this quiet kind of hurt that sits with you when a day that's supposed to mean something....doesn't

And he forgot too.

That was the part I didn't admit out loud. That was the one that hurt the most.

Two months passed.

Enough time that I stopped checking my phone for anything that wasn't there. Enough time that my birthday just became another date again-nothing special, nothing worth thinking about. Besides getting older means more people for get about your birthday...right?

Until one random shift.

Busy, chaotic, the kind where you don't sit down and barely breathe.

I was in the middle of charting when he said, "Hey, need you to come to the break room real quick."

"I'm busy," I mumbled, not even looking up.

"No, like... you actually need to come in here."

Something in his tone made me sigh and stand up. I really didn't have time for this. Between being busy and feeling hurt I did not need whatever this was going to be.

I walked into the break room then I saw him.

Standing there, holding a box.

My brain didn't catch up right away. "What are you doing?"

He looked a little embarrassed, but then he spoke up "I owe you something,"

I blinked. "What?"

He walked over and held the box out to me.

"I forgot your birthday," he said, simple and honest. "And I felt really bad about it."

The room felt quieter somehow.

I took the box slowly, like I wasn't sure it was real. This can't be real.

"Open it."

So I did.

Ice cream cake.

"Happy birthday."

My chest tightened in the softest, strangest way.

"It's... two months late," he added, rubbing the back of his neck. "But I didn't it to just stay like that. You deserved to be celebrated."

I laughed a little, but it came out shakey. "At work?"

"I figured you couldn't escape here," he said with a smile. "So I brought it to you."

Everyone forgot

But two months later, in the middle of a busy shift, surrounded by people and fluorescent lights and everything ordinary-

He remembered.

And somehow, that made it feel even more real.

Like I mattered enough...

to come back for.

Authors note: I would like to say that I am very lucky and fortunate to live the life I have. People forgetting my birthday is such a minor problem in a worl full of bigger problems. Everyday I get to wake up and do a job that I love and worked so hard for. I get to study the things I like, I get to hangout with my coworkers who are amazing, and I have a wonderful mom and dad who would do anything and everything to make me happy in life. Even if everyone forgets your birthday... celebrate by yourself! Treat yourself to a burger, cake, pizza, or even that small thing you saw at Walmart. Taking care of yourself is the most important thing you can do!! It doesn't even have to be your birthday! Everyday you can do something small that makes you feel happy. I know things can be hard sometimes but don't ever forget to take care of yourself. Thank you all for reading!