happy Birthday

It's 11:57PM

I'm finally eating my cake

Happy 19th birthday

But it's just me

sitting at the family dinner table that seats 8

And the cake that my long distance friend bought me

Surrounded by the ghost of my family members

Who couldn't even spare a hug

It's 11:58PM

The cake's good

I had a feeling

It would be like this

It's 11:59PM

The cake is half eaten and the ice cream has melted

And the tears are on the verge of spilling over

a sniffle here and there

time to pull myself together

And it's 12:00AM

The cake's in the garbage

And the longing for an embrace is heavy

All I needed was a hug and a 'Happy Birthday'

But it's 12 o'clock

Maybe I'll have better luck next year