#BlogElul Day 13: Remember

       Searching for a Revision

I think I remember my surprise birthday party

with a centerpiece and napkins to match,

a home baked cake and a candle for each year.

But when I last tried to recall the table I saw frosted

cupcakes and a wrapped present and one candle.

That’s how memories change with time.

Was I happy? Did I thank you for this party?

Just the two of us. Your brother was at basketball

practice and ate his cake long after the

balloons came down and the centerpiece folded.

I remember a long silence while we ate our cake 

on matching plates. What happened then?

Did we laugh? Sometimes I think we went somewhere

after the cake? Other times I think we moved

separately and let the silence blanket the rooms.

That silence followed us— a marauder tamping

down a chance at a different story.