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Happy birthday to you
He blinked awake to witness a man holding a cake, standing beside his bed and singing. He figured that it’s still midnight, deepening the permanent scowl that’s stuck on his face. He rubbed his eyes and slowly rose to a sitting position.
Happy birthday to you
If anyone witnessed this scene right now, they’d say that it’s too quiet for a celebration. There’s only the two of them, in a dark room illuminated only by the candles on the cake.
Happy birthday, dear Soren
But it’s precisely because it’s quiet that he can appreciate it, even though he’s not very fond of birthdays. He watched the fire dance, slowly melting the candle. Will it drip on the cake? It’s probably not good to eat wax.
Happy birthday to you
“Make a wish,” he says with a warm smile. Soren closed his eyes and made a wish. One that he always wished for every chance he got.
He blows the candle and it’s almost pitch black in the room. With only the moonlight illuminating it they can barely see anything. Ike moved to turn on the lamp before Soren grabbed his arm and stopped him.
“Leave it be.”
He can almost see his puzzled face, but complied nonetheless. He put the cake on the bedside table and sat down next to Soren. The bed creaking under the added weight.
He turned and studied the man’s face in the dark, the moonlight only highlighting one side of his face. His face is barely visible but it’s what he needed right now, a mercy to the future that awaits him. Soren raised his hand to touch Ike’s face, thumbs gently stroking his cheek.
Every year is a reminder that time passes so much faster for Ike than it does for him. Once upon a time, it would make him incredibly anxious. But now it’s just a reminder to cherish the man in front of him even more, while he still can.
“What are you thinking about?” Ike asked
“My wish.”
“And what is that wish?”
“If I tell you it wouldn’t come true, would it?”
Ike chuckled at that. Soren doesn’t really believe in wishes and miracles, but for Ike he’s willing to try. Ike leaned over to give him a firm hug, one that he finds so comforting.
As he basked in the warmth of the person he loves the most, he repeated his wish inside his mind over and over again.
I wish for you to live a long and happy life.
The moment seemed to stretch on forever before Ike pulled back.
“Do you want to eat the cake now?”
Soren blinked; he had completely forgotten about the cake. He laughs a little before agreeing, turning on the light himself so that they can actually see what they’re eating.
Enjoy the present , he thought. Leave what may come in the future, where it belongs.
And so, he enjoys it.