As I locked the door and slipped off my shoes, I walked to the kitchen to start preparing some coffee. I hear thumping on the floor above, as if someone’s jumping up and down. Then I hear an excited scream, “This is going to be the best thing ever!”

A second voice joins in, “Alright, we're gonna need ribbons, we're gonna need pink, we're gonna need balloons, and most importantly...

Cake!”

“For Stella-...!”

They say simultaneously.

“Y-you mean for Stellla to enjoy her birthday, right?”

“Hahaha! Yes, of course. That's a given, it counts as the most firstest that it flies off the chart, allowing the second thing, this being cake, to take it's abandoned position of “first”.”

“.... Riiiiiight.”

Then they both laugh as I chuckle. I remember when I had friends as a kid. The world seemed brighter back then, but I guess friendships don't last forever. I hope the birthday party goes well. As I watch the coffee finish brewing, I wonder if I should try to contact my old friends. Who knows? Maybe the future isn't as bleak as it seems. After all, appearances can be deceiving.