Birthday

It is eight minutes past midnight. The 6th of December. Her birthday. Three of her friends call her up and wish her. One sings to her, another plays a song. Few send text messages to her phone. She's sleepy. Bed. Inviting. Her parents had wished her good night at 23:23 and gone to bed. Nothing will happen, she sighs. She lies on her bed and the room goes dark.`

She feels a nudge. Her eyes are closed. She opens them slowly and feels the sudden rush of electric impulses from her cornea to her brain. Well, not really. You can't feel that, can you? She squints and looks around. People in her room. More than four people. She counts again. Five. Six. Seven. Eight. Her eyes hurt. Voices. Is she dreaming?

"She's going back to sleep?!?"
"Oye, enough acting, wake up."
"Happy birthday!"

She opens her eyes. Smiles. Not a dream. Birthday surprise. Happy. Her friends in her room. Birthday caps. Balloons. She smells food. Time? She asks aloud. 2:06 AM.

Someone whispers, "Now, now."

And a cake is smeared on her face.

Happy birthday to her.