The air is saturated with the light aroma of vanilla

and a tinge of red wine

The last notes of “Happy Birthday” hang in the air

each sung in a different tone by the drunken relatives surrounding me

creating a wave of crashing chords, a clashing medley that somehow fits

I grip the table i am sitting in front of

feeling the cool glass surface, almost shatterable but not quite

and the chair legs beneath me that i wrap my feet around

and the candles are lit. they glow like stars set right in front of my eyes

i could almost hold it in its perfection, it does not seem like it would hurt

to cup that flame in the palm of my hand

to spin the stars from my fingertips

they scream “Make a wish!”

my eyes squeeze shut

my breath locked in

so tightly i feel a balloon will burst inside me at any moment

and in one motion i let it whisper out

The candles extinguish

the gray smoke lingering heavy in the air

this moment i could hold forever

the pure bliss of wishes being wished

suspended forever, hanging around me.

and then its gone.