i watch the hands of the clock
tick,
tick,
tick

11:58...
11.59...

12:00.
and silence.

i wait.

with bated breath,
not knowing what exactly
i'm waiting for.

my calendar
is the first to wish me
"happy birthday!"

i wait.

i check the last texts
my friends had sent me

time-stamped
11:55 pm

surely they're awake
...right?

they surely couldn't have forgotten
...right?

i wait.

time ticks by again
slow and cruel

12.05...
12.37...
12.59...

i turn off my phone,
not knowing what
i had been waiting for.

it was my birthday.
i was so much older.

and i'd never felt more alone.