"Dinner is ready!" Dad yells from downstairs. I shoved the journal into the compartment and then screwed in 2 of the screws. Just so it wasn't noticeable.
I knew I wasn't hungry, but I didn't want to be rude. Fay follows me down the stairs. We all assemble to the table except for mom, who is collecting the food plates one by one and placing them on the table.
"It's ok if you're not hungry," my mom whispered, "just eat a little something."
I have no idea why they are so kind to me. It's not like I deserve it. I spoon mashed potatoes on my plate. Dad hands me a small piece of chicken breast. I think about picking up my fork, and about breaking my tradition that I promised myself. If I ate I felt unsatisfied, like it was my fault. But the clinking of knives and spoons and forks made me change my mind.
It has been so long since I tasted something. My tastebuds were doing flips. My stomach, on the other hand, was just getting used to my routine.
"Are you excited?" Fay asks.
"For what?" I ask. My family shares the same confused look as if I was supposed to know.
"In 2 days," she replies, and I stare at her blankly, "geez, Arden, do you not know when your own birthday is?"
She was right. I had completely forgotten. "Ohhh, right"
It wasn't my fault anyhow. It wasn't like I had any friends to invite to a big "birthday bash" as some people would brag. I wouldn't even go to school most days. My mom usually ignored me on my birthday, or any day. But I would usually treat myself with a sleepover with Harlow. My mom wouldn't give a shit. On normal occasions, she would make sure I didn't get that chance, but most nights I would sneak out and sleep in the treehouse with Harlow and we would play Uno while eating Oreos.
I sat and watched them eat as we talked. I stood up to go put my plate in the sink and I suddenly had tunnel vision. It was like watching TV static. Then, my stomach gave in, attempting to launch my dinner back through my system. I swallowed hard, trying to scarf it back down instead of barfing all over the kitchen. But my system was weak, and gave out. I passed out cold on the floor.