It wasn’t even a real party.
Just family.
Nan and Pop,
my aunt,
my parents.
No friends to invite.
No crowds to disappoint.
There were going to be water balloons,
darts stuck into a cork board,
stupid little games
that made the day feel a little lighter.
Sixteen was supposed to be small
but mine.
Now everything feels heavy.
The balloons are gone.
The games are gone.
The day stayed,
but the meaning didn’t.
They talk about dates and plans
like I’m not standing right there.
I don’t count down to my birthday anymore.
__There’s a countdown hanging over me,
and it ends when I stop belonging at home.__
Jan 4
Jan 4, 2026 at 4:12 AM UTC
It wasn’t even a real party.
Just family.
Nan and Pop,
my aunt,
my parents.
No friends to invite.
No crowds to disappoint.
There were going to be water balloons,
darts stuck into a cork board,
stupid little games
that made the day feel a little lighter.
Sixteen was supposed to be small
but mine.
Now everything feels heavy.
The balloons are gone.
The games are gone.
The day stayed,
but the meaning didn’t.
They talk about dates and plans
like I’m not standing right there.
I don’t count down to my birthday anymore.
__There’s a countdown hanging over me,
and it ends when I stop belonging at home.__
19:11pm / I’m not looking forwards to turning 16
