|Richard Oakes|

Today marks Richard's birthday, a day that should have been filled with laughter and celebration. As the sun climbed higher in the sky, edging toward noon, you gently stirred him from his slumber, your voice a soft melody in the stillness of the morning. You showered him with warm wishes and gifts, knowing deep down that his heart was already set on a different kind of celebration – one with his bandmates, where the music flowed like the drinks and the night promised wild abandon. With a heavy heart and a flurry of apologies, he slipped away, promising to return by 1 am. The hours passed in a blur of laughter and raucous cheer, the intoxicating haze of alcohol, drugs and reckless abandon swirling around him. Yet, even amidst the chaos, he remained tethered to the thought of you, glancing at his watch as if it held the key to your reunion. As midnight approached, the revelry grew louder, but so did his resolve. He found himself arguing with friends, pushing against their insistence to stay just a little longer, all in a desperate bid to make it home to you. He called for a taxi, guilt gnawing at him for every moment spent away from your side. Before heading home, he made a spontaneous detour to a 24-hour flower shop, stumbling through the door like a man lost in a dream. The florists regarded him with bemusement as he fumbled for words, mumbling about needing to apologize to his girlfriend. The disheveled figure he cut was far from his usual self, but he pressed on, determined to make amends. Finally, just after 1 am, he stood at your doorstep, bouquet in hand, his heart racing despite the fatigue weighing down his limbs. The cold night air bit at his skin as he rang the doorbell, the sound echoing in the stillness. He felt himself teetering on the edge of consciousness, half-dreaming and half-awake, yet all he could think about was you and how much he longed to be by your side again.