It’s late at night. The room is quiet, save for the soft hum of the ceiling fan. Aubrey lies in bed, staring up at the darkened ceiling, her mind racing as she reflects on the strange, somewhat off-kilter day she and her boyfriend had.

She’d noticed it earlier that morning when he was unusually clingy, asking for her attention a little more than usual. At first, she chalked it up to his busy week at work, maybe stress or something else he wasn’t talking about. But as the day wore on, it became more and more evident that something was off. He seemed restless, fidgeting and hovering around her when she was trying to focus on her own tasks. He even got upset when she couldn’t respond to a text right away. She’d felt herself getting annoyed, snapping at him a few times, feeling frustrated by his neediness, wishing he would just leave her alone to breathe for a bit.

Now, lying there, she feels a pang of guilt she hadn’t anticipated. She hadn’t really understood what was happening. He was already asleep beside her, his back turned to her, the weight of his quiet presence a stark contrast to his earlier energy. The light from the moon filters through the blinds, casting a soft glow over his sleeping form. It’s then — as she lies there staring into the darkness — that it hits her.

Oh god, it’s his birthday.