Work Text:
Two birthdays, one celebration.
Two teenagers, one cake.
Thirty-four candles, six teens, three adults, one booth.
They sit together, exhausted, and watch as the flames dance, the candlelight growing from a glow to pure radiance.
Two teenagers, one wish: I want to survive this year.
Two breaths and one large gust of wind, and the candles extinguish.
Cake and ice cream. Presents.
They’re too tired to truly celebrate. It’s only October and there’s already been so much. But since they’ve survived seventeen years, surely they can survive another. That is what they tell themselves.
That's what they all tell themselves.