Margaret asked Emma a question.

“If nobody had called you today, what would you have done?”

“Probably gone home.”

“And then?”

“Watched television.”

“And tomorrow?”

Emma shrugged.

“Back to normal.”

Margaret shook her head.

“No.”

Emma frowned.

“No?”

“Tomorrow cannot be normal.”

“Why?”

“Because today you learned something.”

Emma looked at her.

“What?”

Margaret smiled.

“You learned who wasn’t there.”

She reached across the table.

“And now you get to decide who deserves to be there tomorrow.”

Emma stared at her.

Then her phone rang.

It was her mother.

Emma’s heart jumped.

“Hello?”

“Emma?”

“Yes?”

Her mother sounded nervous.

“Where are you?”

“At a restaurant.”

There was silence.

Then her mother asked:

“Are you alone?”

Emma looked at Margaret.

“Yes.”

Her mother’s voice became quiet.

“We need to talk.”

Emma’s stomach tightened.

“About what?”

“About your birthday.”

Emma’s heart started beating faster.

“What about it?”

Her mother whispered:

“Nobody forgot.”

Part 6 — The Secret

Emma stared at the phone.

“What do you mean?”

Her mother took a breath.

“We wanted you to think everyone forgot.”

Emma laughed nervously.

“Why?”

“Because we wanted to surprise you.”

Emma’s eyes widened.

“What?”

Her mother began laughing.

“Your brothers are here. Your friends are here. Everyone is waiting.”

Emma stood up.

“Where?”

“At your apartment.”

Emma looked at Margaret.

The elderly woman smiled.

“You should go.”

Emma hurried out of the restaurant.

She couldn’t stop smiling.

When she reached her apartment building, she noticed something strange.

The lights were off.

She opened the door.

“Hello?”

Nothing.

She stepped inside.

Then suddenly—

” SURPRISE!”

The lights came on.

Her apartment was filled with people.

Her family.

Her friends.

Neighbors.

Former coworkers.

People she hadn’t spoken to in years.

There were balloons everywhere.

Flowers.

Photographs.

A huge birthday cake.

Emma covered her mouth.

She couldn’t speak.

Her mother rushed toward her.

“Happy birthday!”

Emma started crying.

“You scared me.”

Her mother hugged her.

“I’m sorry.”

Emma laughed through her tears.

“I thought everyone forgot.”

Her brother shook his head.

“We could never forget.”

Part 7 — The Video

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