Hi, everyone.
My name is Vin, and today is my first birthday.
I don’t really know how birthdays work yet. I’m still very small. My paws are tiny, my ears are too big for my head, and sometimes I trip when I run too fast.
But I have seen birthdays before.
I have seen people clap their hands. I have heard them sing. I have watched them smile around cakes, candles, ribbons, and warm hugs.
So this morning, when I saw a little cake placed in front of me, I thought maybe today was my turn.
I climbed up carefully and looked at it with my sleepy eyes. The candle was small. The cake was small too.
Just like me.
I waited for someone to laugh, call my name, and say the words I had heard so many times before.
Happy birthday.
But the room stayed quiet.
No little hands reached for me. No one lifted me up. No one kissed my head or told me I was a good boy.
I looked at the cake again.
Maybe I had to wait longer.
So I waited.
My eyes became watery, but I tried not to look too sad. Maybe birthdays are busy days. Maybe everyone forgot for just a moment. Maybe if I stayed still and looked very gentle, someone would remember.
I am only one year old.
I don’t need a big party.
I don’t need many gifts.
I don’t even need a huge cake.
I just want someone to look at me today and say, “Happy birthday, Vin.”
Because even a tiny puppy knows when a day is supposed to feel special.
And even a tiny puppy can feel lonely when no one says his name.
So if you see me sitting here with my little cake and my tearful eyes, please don’t scroll past too quickly.
Please wish me happy birthday.
I will wag my tail for every single wish.
And maybe, just maybe, today will finally feel like my birthday.
