Today marks my 89th birthday. My name is Joseph, and I sit alone in a quiet retirement home, staring at a plate of dumplings. I don’t know who made them for me, nor if anyone will remember to wish me a happy birthday. I have three children, but they haven’t visited in a long time. They told me this place was for my own good, yet as the days pass, the phone remains silent. I am not bitter, but I am sorrowful. Sorrowful because, despite the distance, my heart has never stopped loving them. Sorrowful because I ask for so little—a warm embrace, a kind word, a simple “Happy Birthday, Dad.” More than anything, I just wish to be remembered today. If you’re reading this, spare me a thought. Not because you know me, but because even a stranger’s kindness can light up the shadows of solitude. At my age, memories and hope are what keep me going. And today, my only hope is that this message reaches those who have forgotten to cherish love before it is too late. ❤️ To every father and grandfather left behind—you are not forgotten. You are loved. ❤️
A Lonely Birthday Wish
