10/05/2026
Today is my birthday, but my heart feels heavier than ever. This is my first birthday without my dad to call me, pray for me, and remind me how much he loved me. Instead, all I have now are memories and silence. Losing him on January 10 broke something inside me that I don’t think will ever fully heal.
This year has been the hardest year of my life. I smiled in places where I was secretly hurting, laughed around people while fighting tears inside, and carried pain I could never explain to anyone. Some nights I stayed awake thinking about how life can change so suddenly. One moment you have someone, and the next moment you’re learning how to live without them.
Birthdays used to feel special to me, but today I realize how much a person can be surrounded by people and still feel empty inside. The truth is, a part of me left with my dad the day he died.
Still, through all the pain, God has kept me alive. I may not understand everything right now, but I’m grateful for the strength to keep moving forward even when my heart is tired. I’m praying that this new age brings healing, peace, and better days because this year has tested me in every possible way.
Happy birthday to me.
