Celebrating a birthday

Ashwin Goyal

Oct 20, 2023 — 1 min read

Another year, another birthday. Honestly, the whole thing feels kind of stupid. People making a fuss because the calendar says I’m a year older. I glance at my phone, dreading the well-wishes.

Don't need any of that fuss. Grown-ups shouldn't be all caught up in birthday stuff. Birthdays are for kids. What’s it even matter? It’s not like the earth pauses in its orbit to celebrate me. I scoff when friends ask what the plan is. “Plan? What’s there to plan?” I laugh it off.

As I’m about to call it a night, my door bursts open. "Surprise!" they all yell, room exploding with noise, color, and familiar faces.

I can't stop this smile spreading across my face, this warmth bubbling up inside. I'm just utterly, completely happy. “This is the best day ever!” I yell back.

Talking to myself

My inner voice is usually kind. It reassures me that I'm good enough and, when things don't go as planned, makes up a fictional story where I'm the hero. Usually. Unusually, the voice becomes an agent of chaos. It spirals, highlighting every flaw, real

Working hard

"First!" I announce to the empty office chairs, a small victory to start the day. It’s going to be a good one, I can feel it. My keyboard goes tap-tap-tap. “They’re going to be wowed,” I say to myself, as I beam at the progress on