I remembered being little; I would get excited for days, sometimes weeks before my birthday. I loved them-parties, balloons, friends, cake. It wasn't just my birthday, either. I was just a birthday girl and would celebrate with anyone. I didn't recall when they'd lost their zeal, but now, I dreaded them-they were nothing other than reminders that I was getting older and nowhere near where I'd thought I'd be at this age.
Today was no different than the last fifteen or so I'd endured. I hated even acknowledging it was anything other than just a normal day, but this birthday seemed destined to be miserable. I cried myself to sleep last night, thinking about how much I was hurting myself and Liam. When I woke up, my eyes were swollen, and my head pounded from the emotional strain. I looked li
