Birthday Party

I'm absolutely euphoric right now. They still remember my birthday! We've never seen each other for ages and yet, all my friends from college are right outside my door with their fancy cars. They didn't bring their children along for some reason; they would've enjoyed the cupcakes and spaghetti my attendants made for me. But nonetheless, I'll make sure they'll have a very good time.

With my long hospital gown, I welcome them to my house. Arvin got in first, and after quick mocks we shake hands. I smell the strong musk from his grey suit. Jeth embraces me, his rather cold shirt slightly startling. Karen comes next with still best friend Jan Paul, but she's so slim now that I hardly recognize her. Jean and Zusette follow, but not after they both slap my face – their version of 'hi', I guess. Yani comes in, still as sweet as cotton candy though now almost as tall as me. Charlene embraces me as well, awkwardly for some reason, as Marren, Jo-Ann and Joy follow. They all wear indescribably fancy dresses, bearing Gucci, Armani and Louis Vuitton, and all of a sudden my room is filled with the smell of culture and high living. I bring them to their seats, thankfully adequate. Embarrassment is all over me.

I let them sit around my large round table, the whole buffet waiting for them to dig in. I made my welcome before I sit. "Oh my God, I... I'm so happy you're all here," I say. "I didn't expect all of you to come. I couldn't thank you all enough." They didn't respond, other than the seemingly forced smile on their faces and an almost worried stare. They're all silent for some reason, but I guess they must be weary from the long trek.

"Please, go ahead!" I point to the food. "Dig in while they're still hot. Go on!" Still, they just stare at me, smiling, no one giving the slightest notice to the food. Sitting beside me, I made Yani turn to my side. She didn't say anything. She just kept smiling.

A stout woman comes into my room, her uniform colored just like mine. It was Mrs. Grunion, my attendant for over a year now. "Is everything alright, Adam?" she says.

"Oh, Mrs. Grunion! So good of you to come," I say, expressing all happiness. "Everyone, this is Mrs. Loren Grunion. She's been with me as long as I remember. She prepared the food for us!"

She looks around, bewildered. "What's going on here? Who...? Are they your friends?"

"Yes, they're all my friends from college. Isn't it great?! They all came for my birthday. Please, come eat with us."

She tries to produce a smile as she slowly backs away. "No, I'm still full. Thank you. I'll just go get something for you." She hurriedly goes out the door, after which murmurs start from the hallway outside. They must be talking about the other patients again.

I turn back to my fancily-clad guests, who now face each other, whispering breaths in each other's lobes. The table remains undisturbed at all. I expected Arvin and Karen to have already devoured half of the sandwiches, but they haven't touched their spoons yet. In fact, no one has ever said a word to me. They must hate my food.

"What's the matter? Don't you like my food?"

Yani reaches for my arm. "We're sorry for you," she says, her once tiny voice now croaky like mine.

"What are you talking about?"

All of them then turn to me, their stares piercing, their forced smiles replaced with absolute pity and anger. "You had the biggest potential among all of us," says Arvin, his voice croaky as hell. "We've always looked up to you. We thought you knew better."

They bring it up again. I've already moved on about it, buried it in the deepest recesses of my mind. "I don't want to talk about it."

"You had everything anyone could ever ask for," Charlene says, her voice croaky too. "A wife, beautiful children and all the money in the world. You betrayed them."

My head starts to burn. "Please, stop it. I was sorry. I knew they forgave me!"

"How can they forgive someone like you?" Karen says. "You're a pathetic creature. You don't deserve to live."

"No, no, no! I am a good man. I am a good father!" I scream, my fingers digging to my head.

"Drugs are good, aren't they?" says Jeth, smoke coming out of his ears and mouth. "They make you invincible."

"No, I don't want it anymore! Please, what are you doing to me?!"

Jean's face suddenly changes into my daughter's. "Daddy? Why did you do it to us? Why did you cut me in two?"

I stand and move away from them, terrified as hell. "No, no, no! You're not real!"

Their clothes get soaked in blood, and they start speaking rapidly in unison, their voices monstrous. "You killed us! You killed us! You killed us!"

I grab a fork near me and lunge towards them, who kept yelling at me as I repeatedly drive the sharp edges into their faces. Feathers fly out of their eyes and mouth. The next thing I knew, the guard grabs my neck and sticks a needle into me. Slowly, I fade away into oblivion.