It was Sasha's birthday. She was happy she was going to get to spend it at home with Sarath. She'd just gotten home from running errands. Sarath was walking towards the door.
"Don't wait up." He said. "I might be late night depending on the traffic."
"Where are you going?"
"To the game."
"Don't you remember what today is?"
"Oh yeah." He said with it just coming to him. "Happy birthday."
"You forgot."
"No."
"Yes you did." "Just leave."
"Sasha-
"Go." He left.
A few days later Sasha was in the Women's Locker Room at the arena. She and Charlotte were alone.
"Sasha are you ok?" Charlotte asked.
"Sarath forgot my birthday."
"What?"
"Yeah."
"Did he at least buy you something?"
"No." "I don't know what's been wrong with him lately." "I don't like it."
"Things will get better."
"I hope so."
Sasha was walking down the hall a little while later.
"Hey Sasha." Roman said from behind her. She turned around.
"What's up Roman?"
"Not much." "It was your birthday a couple days ago right?"
"Yeah."
"Here." He pulled a card out of his back pocket.
She opened it and read it. "Thank you." She started to cry.
"What's wrong?"
"Sorry it's not you." She said wiping her eyes. "Really thank you."
"Well if you need to talk or you just wanna hang I'll be in my room tonight after the show."
"Ok."
After the show Sasha went to Roman's room. They were sitting in the living room talking.
"If it makes you feel any better Galina and I are still fighting to." Roman said.
"Still about money?"
"Yeah." "I don't get it." "She never used to be like that." "Now it seems like that's all she cares about."
"Sarath forgot my birthday."
"What?"
"Yeah."
"How can you forget your own wife's birthday?" "Galina would kill me if I did that."
"I don't know but he did." "He had plans to go out." "He didn't even realize it was my birthday until I said something."
"No offense but what a jerk."
"That's why I started crying when you gave me that card earlier." "I thought, my friends can remember my birthday but my own husband can't."
"I'll tell you what." "Stay right here." "I'll be back in about fifteen minutes." He said standing up.
"Where are you going?"
"Just wait here."
He came back fifteen minutes later holding a big box.
"What did you do?" Sasha asked.
"I got us a snack." "It's an ice cream cake." He took it out of the box and sang happy birthday to her.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome."
After they ate the cake Sasha was getting ready to leave. Roman walked her to the door. She hugged him.
"What was that for?" Roman asked.
"For getting that cake, for being so sweet." She said smiling.
"I'm just glad I could cheer you up." "I like seeing that pretty smile."
"Goodnight."
"Goodnight." She left.
