Daniel dug until he found four more candles, tips blackened from use. He gently touched each of the pristine red candles already in their places of honor above "birthday". Red was still the color of luck in Egypt. Eight candles to represent the lucky years of his life. He stuck the others slowly into the chocolate frosting, just under his name. The dark blue of mourning almost invisible against the brown. Miss Gwen let him do this himself when he asked. A gentle hand pulled him close and he wept. No more happy birthdays. Just one more year into forever.