This is going to be the best birthday ever. I finally get to celebrate it without having to share a party with my sister. All my friends are here and…oh, even my crush Ben. This is perfect! We have pizza and soda in the basement and snacks. Everything that I wanted as a child, it was all here in this house.

Now I know what you may be thinking…I must be a pretty entitled brat if I thought that all my past birthdays sucked. That’s not entirely true. I’ve enjoyed playing with my sister and eating cake with her…but it was only ever one cake. And that cake was always _her_ choice since she was the youngest. I almost never got to invite more than a friend to come while Lucy got to have as many friends as she wanted. On top of that, Mom would rarely pay attention to when I was opening my presents…so yeah, now you can see that I never really enjoyed my birthday.

So when I found out that Lucy wanted her own birthday this year and not share it, I was _thrilled_ and begged Mom and Dad to let this happen. They gave in and I cheered. I was so very happy about this. Lucy was smiling. I guess she knew how unhappy I was and wanted to give me the spotlight this time.

So now I am sitting at a table with all my friends as we talk and joke with each other. It’s the best time. Lucy was eating her pizza and I could tell she was happy.

Dad came down with a pink cake that I finally got to pick out and I just stare at it as if it is the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. It was small…smaller than Lucy’s. But I didn’t care, it was still the most beautiful because I technically got to pick it out.

“Make your wish.” Dad says after everyone sings happy birthday. And I do. The lights suddenly turn off and I look around. Okay. Whoever flicked off the lights as soon a I blew the candles, that was pretty good.

The lights turn back on and I see no cake. Seriously? Okay, the joke is no longer fun—“ Dad comes in with the same cake.

Everyone starts singing happy birthday and Dad tells me to make a wish.

“Wait…I already did that.” I say. Everyone stares at me as if I had said something crazy.

“Umm…good one kiddo. Come on, make your wish.” Dad says…so I do. And the same thing happens, the lights go out and…Dad comes in with the same cake.

“Seriously. What is going on? Where is Lucy?” I ask, remembering Lucy sitting near one of my friends. Dad tilts his head and looks at everyone.

“Who is Lucy, Maggie?”

“My sister! She was here a moment ago!”

“You’re our only child, kiddo. Don’t know what you’re talking about.”

I get up and race out of the basement to go look for my sister…something’s off. This isn’t right. Every single picture…is me. There are no pictures of Lucy anywhere. It’s as if she never existed. I go to her room and it’s just a guest room.

“Who are you looking for, Mags?” Someone asks and I turn to see Mom standing in the doorway.

“Mom, where’s Lucy?”

“Lucy? Who is Lucy?”

“Your second daughter!”

“Are you feeling okay, Maggie?”

“Don’t suddenly ask if I’m okay and pretend you never had another child! Lucy, my sister!” I grab my phone to find one of her…but there are none. It’s as if every memory of her left in thin air. Did any of her friends know her…?

Mom grabbed my shoulder. “Come blow out your candles.” She says and I pull away.

“I already made my…wish.” My voice trails off as I realize something….

“Oh? What did you wish for, then?” It takes me a second or two to respond.

“I wished that I could have a birthday every year and…for Lucy to be out of the picture….”