Chapter 28 – A Birthday to Remember
The hospital room was barely recognizable.
Streamers hung crookedly from the curtain rod, paper lanterns danced in the air from a ceiling fan, and a cake — slightly lopsided but lovingly homemade — sat proudly on the rolling table. It wasn't glamorous, but it radiated something better: love.
Andrea stood in the center of it all, cheeks flushed, her hand still tangled with Sheik's. Her heart was full — confused, overwhelmed, but full.
"I thought you hated surprises," Sheik said softly, watching her take it all in.
"I do," Andrea said, eyes flicking toward the canvas in the corner, where their friends had started painting a silly group portrait of them. "But apparently not when they come with cake, confetti, and the boy I love walking without a limp."
He winced. "Still sorry about that."
She smirked. "Yeah, you're gonna be paying for that one."
They sat together on the hospital bed as their friends lit candles, singing off-key, laughter echoing down the sterile hallway. Sheik squeezed her hand as she made her wish.
"What'd you wish for?" he asked.
"If I tell you, it won't come true."
"Let me guess. Revenge?"
"Maybe." She nudged him playfully. "Also maybe something about forever."
That quieted him. His expression softened.
The party rolled on — music, snacks, one chaotic round of charades, and a heartfelt toast from Sheik's best friend, who tearfully called Andrea "the only girl who ever made this clown bearable." She laughed through it all, tears sneaking into her eyes when no one was looking.
Later that evening, after everyone had gone and the room had quieted again, Andrea sat at the edge of the bed, the balloon strings tangled in her fingers.
Sheik reached into a small box on the side table and pulled out a tiny wrapped gift. "One more," he said.
She opened it slowly — a delicate silver bracelet, with a small charm shaped like a soccer ball next to a tiny paintbrush.
"I had it made," he said quietly. "Because… no matter where we go after this, I want you to remember this day. Us. Right here."
Andrea's throat tightened. "I don't need a bracelet to remember this."
"I know," he said. "But I wanted you to have something that stays even when we're far apart."
She leaned her head on his shoulder. "Thank you, Sheik."
"For the bracelet?"
"For the lie. For the truth. For loving me like this."
He smiled into her hair. "Happy birthday, Mei."
She closed her eyes. "Best one I've ever had."
And in the quiet, surrounded by crumpled paper, cake crumbs, and fading balloons, two 18-year-olds held each other like the world outside could wait just a little longer.