Today is my birthday.

I'm turning fifteen in 10 minutes, at 11:59. Right before midnight.

What is supposed to be a joyous occasion is something has brought me nothing but grief.

The clock ticks. It's 11:50. 9 more minutes.

I remember the screaming. I couldn't forget it if I tried. And I've *tried*.

I still remember how howls of pain tore through the lips of the people around me as they clawed at their own flesh. How my own wails of agony weren't enough to deafen the crying of the people beside me as they desperately attempted to put themselves out.

The clock tocks. It's 11:51. 8 more minutes.

I remember the fire.

How it raged, consuming everything in it's path. How brightly-colored decorations and paper plates easily became fuel for nightmares. What was supposed to bring joy now only working to feed the flames.

The clock ticks. It's 11:52. 7 more minutes.

I remember crying, but no tears.

After the fire reached my face, greedily licking at my soft skin, searing my tear-ducts, working through my hair - there were no more tears. There will never be tears again.

The clock tocks. It's 11:53. 6 more minutes.

I remember the smile slipping off of my face as I felt the first waves of heat.

I remember the looks of joy on my friends's faces slowly draining away, morphing into looks of panic as we realized that this was not a joke. Fear. How they banged on the door, begging to be let out as the room filled with smoke.

The clock ticks. It's 11:54. 5 more minutes.

I remember the parents frantically moving to protect their children. How they tried call the fire department. To get help. To get reassurance. Comfort.

The clock tocks. It's 11:55. 4 more minutes.

I remember the smell of burning flesh.

How the scent of my own charred skin and singed hair quickly overpowered the cake in front of me. How it was unlike anything I had ever smelled before.

The clock ticks. It's 11:56. 3 more minutes.

I remember the pain.

White-hot, searing, burning pain. It hurt so much I knew that if I survived, I'd never experience anything as painful again.

The clock tocks. It's 11:57. 2 more minutes.

I remember the wishing.

How quickly I changed my birthday wish from "I hope my cat gets better soon!" to "Make it stop! I'll do anything to make it stop."

The praying to God, as the teary-eyed younger siblings begged Him for help while I and their older siblings burned.

The clock ticks. It's 11:58. 1 more minute.

I remember the ash and smoke quickly filling the lungs of those who managed to crawl into the corners, far away from those who burned, like me.

How they dragged their nails down their cheeks, scratching at their throat. Trying to breathe through the smog. How they coughed, like a sputtering engine before it dies. Dry wheezing, visceral roars.

The clock tocks.

It's my birthday. I was born now, in these 60 seconds.

I won't forget again. How could I?

I will never forget. I will remember today forever.

The clock ticks.

It's 12 AM.

It's a new day, now. No longer my birthday.