To: Sherlock Holmes

Subject: Another year older

- My birthday was today. I'm sure you knew that. Mrs. Hudson, Greg, Harriet, - Molly, Sarah, and even Mycroft stopped by to pay - a visit. (Jeanette still won't speak to me.)

- It wasn't fun.

- I understand why you hated it when I wanted to celebrate for you.

Birthdays were boring.

John shuts the door after Mrs. Hudson leaves, sighing heavily. He knew that they all gave each other pitiful looks when they thought he wasn't looking. But, after so long with Sherlock, John had gotten a little more perceptive, and he knew that they had been showering him with invisible pity. He hadn't said anything, but it had made him angry.

He runs his fingers through his hair before wandering back to his bedroom. He flips open his laptop, and, as usual, brings up the page for his blog. He has been doing this for the past month, even though there are no more cases to write up.

Ella thinks that he should continue his blog. John has opened his blog once, maybe more, every day for the past month, even though Sherlock isn't there to watch over his shoulder.

He stares at the blinking cursor, frowning. He wants to write something. He really does. But nothing seems important anymore.

His birthday. He could write about his birthday. That had been fun, hadn't it? It had been the idealization of fun, anyway. It would have been better if Sherlock had been there, too. But that was impossible.

John sighs again, agitated now. He slams his laptop shut, shoving away from the table.

He has to be truthful, with himself, at the very least. He hasn't felt like writing anything since the day Sherlock died. He knows he won't write anything again. He just... he won't. There is no point to his blog if there is no Sherlock.

Instead of writing his blog, he has taken up texting a disconnected number. Every time, he gets a failure message. And, every time, he just picks up his phone and texts that number again.

Sherlock's number.

To: John Watson

Subject: (No subject)

- Failure to deliver message.

OH MY GOSH. I FORGOT JOHN'S BIRTHDAY. IT WAS YESTERDAY (July 7th). I kind of hate myself right now. :/ (Of course, no one really knows when John's birthday is; it's just been assumed, but I got with July 7th.) I've had this written for awhile. It fell into place at a good time (although I should have posted it yesterday .). I hope you enjoy. Your suggestions all start coming in next chapter!

Happy (belated) birthday, John! I love you! We love you! Reviews show love!