On, your best friend's birthday is finally here. You've been friends ever since you moved into her neighborhood as kids. She was the first person to be nice to the new kid on the block, and she doesn't know it, but you've always had a crush on her. This is the day you'll finally tell her. You wake up, excited. What a brave and glorious day! Using your own recipe, you bake a dozen delicious cupcakes. They are all for her, and your little sister even gets mad when you tell her she can't have any. Finally, after putting the last touch on your icing message, your heartfelt creation is complete. Electricity flowing through your spine, you march down the street to her house, only to find a few cop cars and an ambulance blocking the driveway. Confused, you ask a bystander what is going on. They tell you about the poor girl that overdosed on heroin the night before. Another bystander overhears and adds that "yeah I heard one of the officers say it was apparently her first time. And right before her birthday too. It's simply tragic. My heart goes out to the family. Did you know her?" Broken and shocked, you run home and call her. She doesn't answer her cell. You call her house, no answer. Just before you call her mother, her mother calls you. Her news hits you like a ton of bricks. An ex of hers came to her house the previous night to make amends and to wish her a happy birthday. He's in a body bag too. This wasn't supposed to happen. She doesn't do drugs. There has to have been some sort of mistake. If only you could give her one last message.
Her funeral arrives. You brought her cupcakes. Everyone shoots you these passing glances that make you absolutely sick. They know how close you were. But they don't understand. They didn't know her like you did. You understood her. They won't say anything to you, and you don't know if you want them to or not. You arrive at the open casket. Your composure melts away as you thrust the now-stale cupcakes onto the casket. Sobbing hysterically, and muffled by your hands, all you can say is "I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you..."
Stale Cupcakes by K.K. Slider
