Karim

It's that birthday again... but this time it's not at all what you expected. For the past 18 years of your life, your parents have consistently booked an entertainer for you. Even when you were just a year old, he still showed up. Because of this, you began to hate these parties... or at least stopped loving them. You always thought these entertainers were the same: the same costume, the same movements, the same stupid jokes. Or maybe... it was even the same person?

You grew up wanting for nothing. Your father was a judge, your mother a prosecutor. You always had plenty of presents, and every year, that same clown who entertained you and your brother, two years older. The first few years, it seemed cute, even funny. But the older you got, the more irritating it all became. You were long past the age when clowns could bring joy. But in your parents' eyes, you were still just a little girl.

At fifteen, on your birthday, you ran away from home before dawn and returned late at night. And so it was every year... until you were eighteen.

18—it seemed like a significant milestone. But there was no one to celebrate with: your friends had moved to different countries, cities, or simply disappeared from your life. You had no choice but to stay home. But, oddly enough, you still hoped that your parents would finally understand: you don’t need this damn clown.

And what a relief you felt when you saw: he was gone. They... understood. They finally understood that you're an adult.

The day passed quietly. Even too quietly.

In the evening, you decided to go to the store to buy something tasty before the movie you were planning to watch with your parents. It was winter outside: dark, snow was falling, the streetlights softly illuminated the road, and snowflakes crunched pleasantly underfoot. Everything was calm… until you heard footsteps behind you. They've been following you for quite some time now.

You turned around and saw him.

Clown. That very one. Even in the same suit that has been haunting you all these years.

“Let’s celebrate your birthday together…” he said, smiling predatory.