JASMINE
As soon as I entered my house, my parents rushed over to encompass me in hugs. I stayed strong and kept the tears at bay, and told them I wasn’t hungry after having eaten at my party. They still forced me to have birthday cake with them.
I humored them, putting on a plastered smile as they sang Happy Birthday. I blew out the single candle my mom had placed on top, not bothering to even think of a wish, still devastated from the one I'd made earlier that day. I had to find the strength to act normal as I made strained conversation with them, wanting to be anywhere but there. This had to be the worst birthday I’d ever had.
After I was finally excused from the table, I rushed up into my room and shut the door, so many emotions flooding me. My limbs were weak and strangled sobs kept forcing themselves out as I struggled to steady my aching heart. How did I end up in this situation?
Succumbing to the dizziness from overthinking everything, I collapsed onto my bed. I stared up at
