[ WP ] One day , you blink and are 38 years older .

I stood watching as Cathy blew out all ten candles on her bright pink cake. She smiled widely, spreading the freckles across her face as she finished making her wish. I could read her lips perfectly. The whispered the words without her realizing it. 
 
 We all wished for it when we were little, but we realize how quickly time passes by once we're older. Her bright blue eyes would lose their sparkle and her hair would begin to gray, eventually. At ten years old though, it seems like the most incredible thing ever. 
 
 `` What'd you wish for sweetie?'' I tease. 
 
 `` I ca n't tell you, DADDY, or it wo n't come true!'' she feigned frustration and took off to play tag with Debby and Cindy. Her blond pig tails bounced around as she galloped to and fro with her friends. 
 
 Beth wrapped her arms around my waist, `` I still remember the day she was born, Rich.'' 
 
 I turned to kiss my wife, `` I know, it seems like just yesterday she was swaddled in that pink blanket. Now she's asking for pierced ears and money to go to the movies without us.'' 
 
 Beth frowned, `` I think I overheard her saying she thought that Sammy boy was *cute*.'' 
 
 `` I'll pretend I did n't hear that just yet,'' I turned to watch Cathy run, `` We'll just have to remember to take in every single moment, love. Close your eyes to lock it in!'' 
 
 I blinked hard. I opened my eyes to a woman I did n't know sitting in front of me with a pained expression. 
 
 `` Who... who are you?'' I whispered as I took a step back. 
 
 `` Mr. Davis, how about you take a seat,'' the voice came from behind me but I did n't want to take my eyes off of the woman in front of me. I could n't peel my eyes away. 
 
 She refused to break her stare as well. Her dull blue eyes searched mine, looking for something. 
 
 `` Where's my wife? Where is Beth?'' I stammered. 
 
 The woman spoke, `` Please... just sit down... for me.'' 
 
 I did. I felt like I had to. The woman sat down in front of me. Her blond hair was tinged with gray and her eyes had wrinkles at the corners, but she could n't be any older than fifty. 
 
 `` Dad,'' she broke eye contact with me, `` Dad, mom died six years ago. We go over this every week. It was breast cancer, remember?'' 
 
 I felt the croak escape my lips. I felt the tear begin to fall down my cheek. Everything, for a second came crashing back to me, for a second, before disappearing again. Her wish came true, she grew up in what seemed like a second. I could feel it all slipping away again and the tears began to flood. 
 
 The blond woman with dull eyes and graying hair stood up and said good bye to me before looking over my shoulder and nodding. I closed my eyes, trying desperately to figure out who she was. I focused all my efforts to my memory, in a hopes of recalling a name. 
 
 I stood watching as Cathy blew out all ten candles on her bright pink cake. She smiled widely, spreading the freckles across her face as she finished making her wish.
