Forgotten birthday

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Title: The Day That Slipped Away

Xander woke up to the soft morning light filtering through his curtains. Today was his sixth birthday, a day he had felt a mix of excitement and indifference about. He didn't mind if people forgot; he often felt that way with the hustle and bustle of everyday life. As he got out of bed, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was different today.

He padded downstairs to find his family already caught up in their morning routine. His mom, Valerie, was preparing breakfast while his dad, Colby, scrolled through his phone. His brother, Xavier, was busy building a tower of blocks with Victoria, who was babbling happily.

Xander stood quietly, feeling a twinge of disappointment. He thought maybe this year would be special, but no one seemed to notice him at all. He watched as everyone went about their business, and although he had ADHD, which sometimes made it hard to express his feelings, he didn't want to ask for attention. Instead, he just sat down at the table.

"Good morning, Xander!" Valerie said absentmindedly, still focused on flipping pancakes. "Can you set the table?"

"Okay," Xander replied softly. He worked quietly, wishing he could feel more included.

The morning passed in a blur. Colby asked Xander to help him with chores outside, and while they were raking leaves, Colby accidentally slapped Xander's arm. "Watch where you're swinging that!" he barked, frustration evident in his voice.

Xander felt hurt, but he didn't say anything. He thought about how he didn't want to make a big deal out of it. "It's just an accident," he muttered under his breath.

As lunchtime rolled around, the family gathered at the table, and Xander attempted to bring up his birthday. "Um, can we have cake later?" he asked, hoping to spark a conversation.

Valerie looked at him, slightly puzzled. "We'll see, honey. There's plenty of time for that. Right now, we need to eat."

After lunch, the day continued with everyone distracted by their own activities. Xander wandered into his room to play with his toys, but a sense of loneliness crept in. He thought about the past birthdays when he felt more celebrated, but this year felt like any other day.

As the evening approached, Xander tried to ignore the growing disappointment inside him. He watched as the sun began to set, casting a warm glow over the house. His heart sank further when he heard Colby and Valerie talking in the living room.

"Oh no," Valerie exclaimed. "Did we really forget Xander's birthday?"

Colby's voice was filled with regret. "I can't believe it. We were so busy with everything else."

Xander felt a rush of emotions—hurt, sadness, and a strange mix of acceptance. He knew they loved him, but the fact that they didn't remember felt like a void inside him.

When they finally came to find him, Valerie knelt down, her eyes full of concern. "Xander, I'm so sorry. We completely forgot. Can you forgive us?"

Colby chimed in, "We really didn't mean to. We've had so much going on..."

Xander looked at them, tears brimming in his eyes. "It's okay," he said quietly, though he didn't truly feel okay. "It's just a birthday."

Valerie reached out to hug him, and Xander felt comforted, but also overwhelmed. "We'll make it up to you, I promise. Let's have cake right now, even if it's late. We can still celebrate."

Xander wanted to feel excited, but the earlier emotions lingered. "I don't care," he whispered.

They gathered in the kitchen, and Valerie found an old chocolate cake in the freezer. They sang a clumsy rendition of "Happy Birthday" as they sliced the cake, but Xander felt more like an afterthought than the guest of honor.

As they ate together, the atmosphere shifted, and he slowly began to feel the warmth of their love. Even though his birthday wasn't celebrated in the way he hoped, he realized that being together was what truly mattered.

That night, as Xander lay in bed, he thought about the day. It hadn't been what he wanted, but he knew his family loved him, and they would always strive to do better.

From that day forward, he decided to be more vocal about his feelings, even if it felt hard. After all, he learned that sometimes, it's okay to ask for what you need, especially on days meant to celebrate you.

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