Serena’s 25th birthday

A Celebration Wrapped in Memories: Serena’s 25th Birthday Tonight, we celebrated Serena’s 25th birthday. It was a beautiful evening—one that should have been filled with nothing but laughter, love, and the warmth of family. We gathered at a seafood restaurant of her choice, enjoying a delicious meal and raising our glasses in celebration. The restaurant buzzed with life, the clinking of silverware against plates, the hum of conversations around us. Serena looked radiant, happy, and deeply loved by those surrounding her. Before we left for dinner, Idris gently said, “Let’s not talk about Sana tonight.” I knew why he said it. He wanted to keep the evening light, to make sure that Serena felt truly celebrated, without the weight of grief clouding the moment. I nodded in agreement, but deep down, I wondered—is it really possible not to talk about Sana? She is woven into every part of our lives, into our conversations, our memories, our very being. Even in silence, she is there. As we enjoyed our meal, laughter filled the table. Stories were shared, wine was poured, and for a while, it felt like a normal, happy family gathering. And yet, in the midst of the celebration, my mind drifted—back to this exact day last year. Sana had just begun feeling unwell around this time. There was a lingering fatigue she couldn’t quite shake, but despite that, she never forgot Serena’s birthday. I remember sitting with her as she typed out a message, discussing what we should send Serena as a gift. Even in her discomfort, she showed up for the people she loved. That was Sana—thoughtful, selfless, always making sure those around her felt special. Never once did it cross my mind that the following year, we would be celebrating without her. I looked around the table at the people I love, feeling the bittersweetness of the moment. I am so incredibly grateful for Serena—for her love, for her kindness, for her presence in our lives. She has been a pillar of strength, holding us up in ways she may not even realize. I am beyond blessed to have her as part of our family. But grief is strange. It does not disappear in the presence of joy. Gratitude does not erase the pain of loss. They coexist, intertwined in the fabric of our hearts. So, while we celebrated Serena tonight, in the quiet spaces between laughter and conversation, Sana was there. Unspoken, but ever-present. We continue moving forward, carrying both love and loss, learning that happiness does not mean forgetting—it means honoring what was, while embracing what is.