Since I was born, birthdays were just a show, with great actors trying to win an award for the best performance. A meeting set on the same day, at the same time, in the place we hate the most. Then we forget it ever existed. The same faces, still I can't name them all. No matter how hard I try, it's not something I can learn in one day. The room is filled with heavy air, soon it becomes unbreathable. Words silently fly around the room, Still they never land on anyone. The clouds grow darker and darker with each minute, Still no one dares to be the first lightning strike nor the first raindrop. People walk around me, stopping for a glance, judging me and silently speaking about my history, like we are in a museum and I’m some interesting artifact. But no one can insult louder than their mouths, and no one hears it more clearly than my ears. They give me presents to make me forget their mistakes, to fill the empty spaces they carved into my heart, because they don’t know how to fix anything without money. Ending the day with a perfect family photo on social media, with wide but fake smiles and happy birthday wishes that are never truly meant, like this isn’t the worst day of the year. Applause for everyone who participated in this show. Everyone acted according to the script. Now it’s time to show your true colors, time for the behind-the-scenes, which will forever stay unseen by the world. But happy birthday to me. Happy birthday.