At 37 years old, you have three minutes until you are halfway through your lifespan, and four minutes until you’ve lived most of your life. At least according to the average lifespan of people in your country.

This isn’t the first time you’ve seen it looming over you, but every time you blink, it’s closer than it was before. You’re sometimes reminded of it when you’re alone with your thoughts, if only for a moment, before you force it away.

But you know that someday, it will take you away with it no matter how much force you use.

Two minutes left.

The sands of time feels like sandpaper on your skin, bristly and prickly. It litters your locks like dandruff, stuck between your toes, inside the sleeves of your clothes, and underneath your fingernails. You are 37 years old.

But you still feel like you’re in your twenties, don’t you?

One minute left.

Honestly, some days you don’t want to be alive. You say you feel dead when you come back from work, after all. But other times, you will watch thriller shows about people putting their own lives before their loved ones, and you can’t help but wonder if you would do the same in such a situation.

Your time is almost up nonetheless.

Happy birthday.