The Birthday Without Him
Chapter 14 - The Birthday Without Him
Noah turned six in June.
Daniel had promised to build a backyard obstacle course for the birthday party. “Military training,” he called it. Anna called it a lawsuit with balloons.
After the funeral, she considered canceling everything.
Noah surprised her.
“I still want the obstacle course,” he said.
Anna stared. “Baby, I don’t know how to build that.”
“Uncle Lucas does.”
Lucas did.
By noon, the backyard had pool noodles, cardboard tunnels, hula hoops, cones, and one very serious station where children had to salute Private Rocket before receiving a cupcake. Mrs. Alvarez made sandwiches. Major Miller came by in civilian clothes with a gift bag and looked deeply uncomfortable when six children asked whether he was a real police officer or a pretend army man.
The folded flag remained inside, not hidden, not displayed like decoration. It sat on a shelf in the living room near Daniel’s photo.
Before cake, Noah ran inside alone.
Anna found him standing near the flag.
“You okay?”
He nodded.
“I’m telling Daddy he can watch.”
Anna swallowed. “Good idea.”
Noah leaned closer to the photo.
“I’m six now. You missed it, but Mom didn’t cancel. Also Lucas made the tunnel too small.”
From the backyard, Lucas yelled, “I heard that.”
Noah grinned.
Anna laughed.
The laugh did not hurt as much as before.
That evening, after everyone left, Noah fell asleep on the sofa with frosting on his sleeve and Private Rocket in his hand. Anna covered him with Daniel’s old sweatshirt.
The day had not been whole.
May you like
But it had been lived.
That felt like victory.
