I don’t really celebrate birthdays, none of us do at home. It is just a normal day where we get up, get to work/school, and sleep.
Sometimes we look through old photos or my mother goes through what happened when we were born.
We visited the doctors a few weeks ago and she blurts out “Ayan was very small when she was born, she was premature and had to stay in an incubator. Is there any side effects from this?” I remember thinking almost three decades have gone by, surely we would know by now? We laughed about this on the journey home.

I can remember one birthday, I went to school as normal, my sister told me happy birthday when I got home, I made eggs on toast for dinner and read an old book.
I went to sleep at 7pm. Back then, I woke up early and slept early. Now I wake up early and sleep late.

My bedroom door opened, the hallway light was switched on. I woke up and saw my mother standing in the doorway, still wearing her work clothes, coat, carrying a plate with banana bread and a glass of milk.
Happy birthday Ayan!!!
I was shocked to see her with the cake and it felt like a midnight feast! (Even though probably 10 pm lol )
I drank the milk and ate the cake and we sat and chatted on my bed.
I brushed my teeth and went back to sleep feeling so happy and loved.

Love, February