[ WP ] Everyone dies on their birthday , but no one knows at which age it will occur .

`` HAPPY EARLY 19TH BIRTHDAY!!'' 
 
 All the lights suddenly switched on and I was blinded for a moment while my ears picked up sounds of party poppers and weird indoor fireworks going off all around the room. As my eyes regained their normal vision, about thirty of my closest ( and, well, less close ) friends came into view, standing a few metres away from me with beaming faces. Kat gave a slight kick from the back which I realised was to remind my forgetful self to feign surprise. 
 
 `` Ohh you guys, WHAT A SURPRISE! Wow. Just... wow.'' I managed a watery smile and tried my hardest to pretend to be surprised. It was n't convincing at all but they all accepted it. Probably because they knew where my mind must be today. It was, after all, quite possibly the last day of my life. 
 
 I decided to make as much of it as possible. It was a party, so party I did. Though it was supposed to continue till everyone got drunk and left in the wee hours of the morning, I knew I had to make it home before twelve. Anything could happen after twelve especially on the long 30-minute drive back home from Kat's house. I did not want to leave the world not having properly said my last goodbyes to the people who brought me into this world and made who I am today. 
 
 Close to eleven o'clock, I gathered about seven of my closest friends and we went to one of the empty rooms. At first there was silence. It was clear that everyone knew what to say but no one wanted to start. There was sudden shuffling towards the back of the room as Gary - who I am sure did this on purpose to ease the tension, that goddamned lovable bastard - accidentally sat on Kat's 6yo sister's chair and broke it, collapsing to the ground as a result. The most relieved fits of laughter broke out in the room and continued for a minute, at the end of which, silence fell *fucking* again. So I stepped up. 
 
 `` Guys guys, listen. It's okay. You do n't have to, you know, say anything. I know. Believe me, trust me on this, I do. Do n't worry. I'm sure it'll- I'm sure it'll all be okay and over before you know it and I'll be with you all again the day after tomorrow as has been the case for the past six years.'' 
 
 Jen was at the verge of tears at this point and stammered, `` Yeah I hope so but.. but what if...'' and her voice trailed away. 
 
 A hushed silence fell again and everyone nervously began to look at their feet. I had to say something, I did n't want to leave it like this. 
 
 `` Well, if that happens, then that happens. We have known since the beginning that it would happen one day. I guess life will just... go on.'' 
 
 It was n't the best of replies but I had to make do with it because it was 11.15 already. Kat must be waiting for me in the car and I had to leave now. 
 
 `` Listen, I need to go- go to my parents now. Again, do n't worry. We had a hell of a time. If nothing happens, we'll have more of a hell of a time. If that thing does happen, just remember that you all have been some of the most important people in my life. Just remember that-'' and my voice cracked a little. I had not been this emotional during any of the past birthdays so it was a new feeling for me. But if anyone, I had to be strong and act calm for them. They were the most caring bunch of people I've ever had for friends and would not leave me until they knew I was okay. After hugging everyone, I walked out of the party towards the car. 
 
 The ride home was silent as Kat and I both knew it would be no use to say anything right now. Having been together for three years, we had gone through these'times' five times before ( her birthdays included ) and this was the sixth one we were heading towards. We had learned quickly that it was no use discussing it or being overly emotional about it. I absolutely loved her for this because I had seen my buddies' girlfriends creating a noisy racket on their birthdays. Which is not bad, I mean it signifies deep emotion, it's just that both Kat and I preferred it the opposite way. 
 
 My mother had her head down and was crying when I walked in, as she always did the nights before my birthdays. My father was consoling her in a quiet voice, as he always did when this happened. He looked up when we walked in and gave a half-smile. Gently touching my mother's arm, he quite audibly whispered calmly, `` Come on, he's here now. Come on now, let's talk with him.'' Kat understood like always and went up to my room automatically. My mother's sobs were more controlled now as she managed to speak out, `` Go- go up to her. She needs you, I have him right now. We can talk in the morning. Go. I'm praying all night anyway and we will speak about-about everything in the morning'' and the weeping began again. I looked at my father and he nodded. 
 
 `` Good night son. Do n't worry about anything, it'll be the same as has been the past eighteen years. You'll be alright. In fact, cricket's on in the morning, we'll catch some of that over breakfast.'' And with a wink and a smile which can only be described as fatherly, he went back to holding my mother. 
 
 I had seen the depression in his eyes. And the inconsolable state of my mother right now. It had been a norm in our family to have a proper goodbye the night before any of our birthdays but I guess it was n't possibly happening this night. I passed my brother's room on the way over to my room. The door was ajar and he was on his laptop, watching some movie. 
 
 `` Hey good night!'' 
 
 He took off his earphones and replied, `` Oh yeah you too. By the way I got tickets to the match tomorrow, you're coming right? We're going to celebrate your deathday with some sixes and fours!'' he said, grinning. 
 
 `` Haha nah I'm going to watch it here with dad. You know, the goodbye's been postponed to the morning.'' 
 
 `` Yeah... I know. Well alright I'll just get some buds to go with. Hey maybe you'll catch me waving my'Happy Birth/Deathday to my brother!' banner on the camera!'' 
 
 I rolled my eyes in fake annoyance and replied, `` Thanks, man, because that is exactly what I need. G'night.'' 
 
 I entered my room to find Kat sitting on one of the chairs. 
 
 `` Hey come on, I've got to sleep.'' 
 
 She sighed and laid down beside me. It was obvious that something was bugging her. 
 
 `` What is it? Come on, out with it.'' 
 
 `` It's.. nothing, we can talk in the morn. Do n't worry babe, just know that I'm here for you.'' 
 
 `` Yeah. I know that.'' 
 
 I kissed her on her forehead and holding her, I drifted off to sleep thinking about what the morning holds in wait for me. What condition will my parents be in, in the morning? I'm 19 now, will there be a change in the usual talk? Will my mother force me to stay indoors the whole day like she had been begging me for years but I had always managed to sneak out? What did Kat have to say to me? Will we win the match? Will I catch my dumb elder bro on the camera? And most importantly, WILL I SURVIVE? 
 
 The answer to the last question was the only one I got. Because I did n't wake up that morning. And apparently I was n't going to, ever.
