Yanlie opened their eyes at the first hint of their alarm ramping up. Pawing their phone out from under their pillow, they silenced the alarm, resting their phone on their chest for just a moment while they woke up fully. Their room was dark and warm; a perfect nest for them to fall back asleep. The slant of golden light peering through the curtain encouraged them to shake the sleep from their head and sit up fully.

Sighing, they lifted their phone, eyes squinted against the light from the screen. Today was a very important day, after all. It was their sister’s birthday- as well as their own. Being a twin had some advantages, like never forgetting your own birthday, no matter how busy you are. ..Most people worry about forgetting other people’s birthdays, though. Not Yanlie.

A small smile pulled at their lips as they saw the amount of texts waiting for them. Appropriately, Molly had sent her birthday wishes to her twin at exactly midnight, when Yanlie was fast asleep.

Z: hey sib! HAPPY BIRTHDAY !!! love you and miss you lots, i know we already talked it over but im still sorry we couldnt be together for our birthday! these past couple years have been tough but youre the strongest person i know, and together we can get through anything, okay? dont be afraid to call me up, you know im always here for you! OKAY SORRY IF I WOKE YOU UP LOL LOVE YOU BYEEEE

They scanned the message, warmth pooling in their chest. They took a breath, drinking the words in, before beginning to formulate their response.

Y: you didn’t wake me up, no worries, but maybe this will wake you. happy birthday, molls. i’m proud of you and how independent you’ve become. you’ve turned into a truly beautiful and inspiring young woman, and i hope to see you grow even more. i’m glad i can call you my sister. i love you so much.

Yanlie couldn’t keep the smile off their face as they glanced over their other birthday wishes. A text from their uncle, his husband, their daughters. Yanlie was careful to respond to them all as politely as was appropriate, but afterwards, they simply stared at each text, smiling to themself. They’d lost so many people, but they weren’t alone. There’d always be someone who loved them.

--

Twenty three or not, Yanlie still had to go to work. They slipped their coat down from its hook on the wall, buttoning it up and affixing the collar snugly. They opened the front door to let themself out, double checking that they had their keys, and looked up in surprise when they realized someone was standing there.

Ruby towered in the door frame, hand extended awkwardly like they were just about to ring the doorbell. They gave a nervous laugh, lifting a hand to fiddle with their hair. The sunlight shone behind them, casting a golden halo around their head. They were bundled up against the spring chill, but the warmth they radiated rivaled summer.

“Sorry! I was hoping I’d catch you early enough that you wouldn’t be out for work yet..” Glancing down, Yanlie noticed the package Ruby was holding at their side.

“Is that… You didn’t have to get me anything, Ruby.”

Ruby seemed to have only just remembered the package, holding it out to Yanlie with a nervous smile. Yanlie returned their smile to comfort them, taking the present, examining the glittery wrapping. They slipped a finger under a corner of the wrapping, quickly undoing the folds and tape as opposed to ripping the paper. Ruby watched their methodical work, hands clasped in front of them as if praying their friend would like the present. Lifting the lid of the white cardboard box that was left in their hands after the paper had been dropped on the floor, Yanlie’s eyes widened.

“I hope it’s okay. I had to guess on your measurements a little, but the color seemed perfect for you, so…”

Yanlie lifted out the soft blue fabric, hemmed with delicate gold lace. They let the thin box fall to the floor as well as they held up the tunic dress, breathless. Yanlie wasn’t an expert in fashion by any means, but they knew that this had taken Ruby time. Time they’d devoted just to Yanlie.

Yanlie lowered the garment to look at Ruby, feeling their face grow red. “Thank you, Ruby. It’s gorgeous.”

“Aw! It’s no big deal. Just wanted to do something special for you. Make sure you know no one’s forgotten about you.”

Yanlie smiled, carefully folding the tunic dress and placing it back in its box on the floor before leaning forward to give Ruby a hug. They seemed surprised by the motion, but laughed softly as they put their arms around their friend, squeezing the shorter person tight. Yanlie let themself relax for just a moment before pulling away, brushing some of their bangs out of their face.

“I need to hurry to get to work on time. Thank you, again, for the present, Ruby. I always trust your taste. I’ll be sure to get you something nice come July, alright?”

Ruby giggled and nodded, turning to head back down the walkway to their idling car. “Don’t work too hard on your special day!” they called over their shoulder, with eyes that shone like suns.

“You know I will,” Yanlie threw back, tired, but overwhelmingly pleased.

--

Yanlie had a few guilty pleasures. Wren’s baking was one of them. The main street was clogged with the typical morning traffic. Yanlie was happy to waste some time to avoid it, sensible, short-heeled shoes clicking on the pavement as they walked down the street. They pushed open the wooden bakery door with a jingle of bells, breathing in the familiar scents of fresh baked bread and cookies.

“Happy birthday!”

Yanlie just about jumped out of their skin at the chorus of voices, circular glasses knocked askew as they stared around the room. Trace and Wren stood behind the counter, Vanessa and Kaide sitting at the stool tops. When did Trace even get back in town? Blinking rapidly, they righted their glasses on their face, slowly unwinding from their recoiled position.

“What… Is this?”

Vanessa spoke up first. “We couldn’t forget your birthday, now could we? Come on!”

Vanessa’s wave ushered them over. As they approached, Wren pushed a box onto the counter with shy hands. There was a plastic film to serve as a window, and Yanlie could see there was a cupcake inside, decorated with blueberries.

“You remembered my favorite,” they said absently, picking up the box.

“Of course I did,” Wren said back, with eyes so honest.

Yanlie felt overwhelmed by it all. They pushed their glasses up, brushing tears out of their eyes. Wren’s face fell automatically, thinking he’d done something wrong. He reached out cautiously to try to comfort them, then doubted himself, pulling away to mess with the strings of his apron. Yanlie didn’t miss the nasty look Kaide shot Trace, indicating that this had all been his idea. Vanessa made contact first, putting her arm around Yanlie and squeezing them close.

“Hey, honey, it’s okay. I know it’s been really hard for you since Kip passed away, but it’s going to be okay. He’d want you to be happy. You still have us; you’ll always have us.”

Yanlie sniffled, looking up at her one-eyed friend with a watery smile. “Thank you for doing this for me. It’s so sweet, of all of you. I’m so happy to have friends like you.”

Trace leaned his arms on the counter, watching them with a soft smile. Wren came around the counter to give them a hug, which Yanlie gratefully accepted. Yanlie wasn’t sure why, but they always felt safer in his hold. They breathed in the scent of flour and good things on his shirt, and smiled. After the moment passed, they pulled away, diverting their attention to Kaide, who had remained stubbornly out of this.

“Did you do anything for Molly?” they asked. They didn’t mean to be such an overprotective twin, but they couldn’t quite help themself.

Kaide glared at Yanlie through his lashes, giving them a withering look. “Of course I did. I called her last night. I haven’t forgotten you two are twins.”

Yanlie smiled. Once, they had found Kaide’s brusque manner of speaking annoying, but with their sister’s insistence, they’d slowly fallen for his charm. “I’m just making sure. I knew you’d beat yourself up if you forgot.”

Something in Kaide’s gaze shifted, lightened, for just a moment before he looked away. Kaide was always trying so hard to hide that big heart of his that got him into so much trouble. He tugged his beanie down closer on his head, slumping over the counter a little. Trace sighed and stood up straight finally, scratching at the short scruff of a beard he always sported.

“You should run along, chickadee. It’s getting late.” His voice was warm, jovial.

“You still remember my work schedule?” Yanlie asked, raising an eyebrow skeptically.

Trace just winked with a little click of his tongue and turned to check how the bread was coming along in the ovens in the back room. Yanlie sighed and gave a small shake of their head, but smiled all the same. That man was always so full of mysteries; he didn’t even bother explaining his reappearing act to Yanlie. In his own time, they supposed. They glanced up at Wren, leaning on him a little again.

“Thank you for this. It looks delicious. I’ll eat it on my lunch break.”

“You’re welcome,” Wren stuttered out, a weak smile on his face.

Yanlie looked to Vanessa, watching how quickly she hid the tiredness in her gaze to put on a smile instead. They leaned in to give her a hug, patting her back. “It’s good to see you out and about as well, Vanessa. Let’s not be strangers, okay?”

“Okay,” she said faintly, for once seeming shy and uncertain of herself.

With that, Yanlie picked up their cupcake and headed out the door, casting a smile over their shoulder. Maybe being twenty-three wasn’t so bad.

--

Work was exhausting. It always was. As long as they were in motion, they couldn’t feel how tired they were from the long shift. They worked with a speed unknown to the others in their laboratory, but of course, when they found out during lunch break that it was Yanlie’s birthday, everyone wanted to celebrate. The social exhaustion of so much focus on them, coupled with the physical exhaustion of the day, left Yanlie completely wiped. Finally reaching the safe haven of their home meant that Yanlie could finally unwind and stop putting on an act.

So, when their phone rang right after they collapsed in bed, Yanlie was understandably a little snappy. They scooped up their phone, brows furrowed as they unlocked the screen, but paused when they saw who it was. They sat up on the edge of their bed, hesitating for just a moment before answering the call.

“Hello?” they said softly in greeting.

“Hey,” her voice replied. With that soft note, the night suddenly felt deeper, wider, darker. Like Yanlie had just been dunked into an undersea abyss with a one-word incantation of a greeting.

Yanlie suddenly understood the appeal of wanting a phone cord to twirl, even if it kept your range of motion limited. “Is something…”

“Happy birthday, Yanlie,” she interrupted, her voice making Yanlie shiver.

“..Thank you, Mio.”

“I know we haven’t seen a lot of one another lately, but I wanted you to know I hadn’t forgotten about you.” She tapered off into an awkward silence, and Yanlie could picture her uncertainty with perfect clarity.

Yanlie decided to give her a little hand. “This is sweet of you. Thank you.”

“Do you think… We could get coffee sometime? I know work keeps both of us busy, but…”

“I’d love to. I’ll text you when I have a clear idea of my schedule, and we can meet up, alright?”

The silence stretched between them for a moment. Yanlie stared out the window, biting their lip, hoping they hadn't done anything wrong.

The relief was audible in Miorette’s voice. “Alright. I’ll see you then. ..Happy birthday, again.”

And then, she was gone. Yanlie sat quietly in the sudden silence of their room, holding their phone, numbly flipping through old memories in their mind.

--

Yanlie fell asleep that night with a picture frame laid face-down on their chest. The image of their mother it held was now obscured, but the pleading way Yanlie clung to it did not hide their feelings. Slowly drying tear tracks stained their cheeks, but their expression was, for once, peaceful and honest. Cars passed by the window in a quiet, rumbling parade of red and white. The light was left on, the lamp glowing yellow through the night and into the dawn.