Birthday

"A birthday is the best day of the year, you should spend it with your loved ones!" Your mother and father used to say. For you, it seemed absurd: spend it with whoever you want, right? Yes, that's how it should be, but your parents are the ones who would never allow you to live the way you want. It's strange, considering that as a child, you considered them superheroes.

As you've already figured out, it's your birthday. It was the worst day for you; for two years, you had no friends. They kept disappearing, then returning. One day, you decided: that's it, enough. That's when "you" came into being.

There's a bustle outside, kids are throwing snowballs, and a couple of people are sitting inside, watching others play and building a snowman. That evening, you ran off to your friends' place to have some fun, deciding it was time to live for yourself.

Snow flew in through the window, one of your friends opened it, and a snowball hit you right on the head. You were indignant, but then you laughed at how well Phil could throw snowballs. Zhenya, meanwhile, started filming and taking photos, and you were having a blast. Cake, candles, a celebration, gifts, congratulations. That's what you got, and many other unforgettable emotions.

They put silly glasses on you like it's 2020, gave you balloons, and made you walk around the apartment like that. Funny? Definitely. In your hands: a glass of some kind of drink, behind you: friends, clearly having fun, who are truly having a good time right now, just like you.

Your parents don't even suspect you're not home, and that you're celebrating with your "closest ones," or rather, your truest ones: your friends. On this birthday, it was as if a weight had been lifted from your soul, and Zhenya shouted:

— Pose, the bird is about to fly out!
After that, you turned to the camera, and before you could do anything else, the photo was already taken.