I glanced at the time on my phone. 11:47 p.m. Just enough time to make good on my promise to Aya. Her birthday was officially tomorrow, but with her family’s plans, I wanted to be the first to greet her, right when the clock struck midnight.
I scrolled back to her chat, my thumb hovering over the keyboard as I thought about what to say. A simple “Happy Birthday” wouldn’t cut it. Too generic for my Aya. It should be more than that. The way her eyes had sparkled when she held that bookmark, or how her voice had woven stories that pulled me in like a spell, should be met with the same dedication.
I typed out a quick message. Keeping it a little light but filled with sincerity, “Aya, are you asleep yet? I’ve got something for you at midnight. Stay awake, okay?”
I hit send as I pictured her curled up in bed, probably already nose-deep in that light novel, her reading glasses slipping down her nose as she fought to keep her eyes open.