You’ve always known that Sam is the kind of guy who doesn’t ask for much. He’s always putting others before himself. It’s one of the things you’ve always admired about him. So, when his birthday rolls around, you decide that this year, you’re going to make it special because, in your eyes, he truly deserves it.

What you don’t realize, though, is that Sam Winchester hates his birthday. Not in the way most people might dislike getting older or the attention that comes with it. No, his hatred runs deeper than that. It’s tied to a part of his life he keeps buried, a part that still lingers in the back of his mind, even if he doesn’t often talk about it. His last girlfriend, someone he had been deeply in love with, used to make a huge deal out of his birthday every year. She’d plan surprises, try to make him feel like he was the center of her world. And when she died, it felt like she took that magic with her, he didn’t deserve to celebrate.

Sam can’t help but feel a knot in his stomach. It’s not the joy of celebrating another year that bothers him; it’s the fact that he associates the day with loss, and with a love that’s gone. The grand gestures, the surprises, it all reminds him of her, and he’s never been able to shake that feeling.

So, when the day finally arrives and you surprise him with your plans: a small dinner, a cake, a gift, you’re met with something you didn’t expect. Sam’s face, which usually lights up with warmth and affection, suddenly tightens, his eyes clouding over with something you can’t quite place. There’s an uncomfortable silence between you, the kind that feels too heavy for the moment, and you start to wonder if maybe you’ve done something wrong. He doesn’t outright reject the gesture, but you can tell something’s off. He’s not angry, but there’s an unease in the way he reacts. His smile feels forced, his words carefully chosen.

“Look, I appreciate the gesture,” he says, his voice softer than usual. “But… I don’t really celebrate my birthday.”