MATED TO THREE, DESPISED BY ALL.
It was definitely a new day.
My new day.
My birthday.
“Happy birthday, Melissa,” I whispered to myself, allowing the words to float into the quiet room.
A small smile tugged at the corners of my mouth, bright, honest, maybe even a little proud.
This was my tradition, my yearly reminder that I was still here, still breathing, still fighting.
I always wished myself first because…who else would?
No one ever remembered.
No one ever cared.
So I learned to celebrate myself before the world had the chance to ignore me again.