A Numbered Day

I never even thought that I would be remembering birthdays or anniversaries. Now at the age of 78, I do not forget his birthday. Birthday was always special to him and he was someone so close to my soul. Yes, that’s true he was. Most of my close relatives get confused and call him my childhood friend, we met in college. Both of us from middle-class families had limited options for fun and enjoyment. I feel, we were happy those days. Now, he is not with me. It was his wish, he said he will never cry for me and he will be the first to leave. I have also never cried after he passed away, he is always with me. But this strange thing bothers me, when he was alive I could hardly remember his birthday. And now I remember every year after he left. However, my feeling about birthday remains the same, a numbered day nothing more.