You know really well that we were born at the same year, Ruto, and ever since then, I was never one to despise the sun. I love to chase it. I love it when my dad tells me that I am reeking of the sun after a fun day out with my friends. I love it when I get to see the rays of sunrises and sunsets. I love it when it shines so blindly in the morning that it wakes me up because my back feels too warm. I love it when my mom thanks the sun for bringing her favorite plant back to life.
It might burn like hell in this city at this season, but I was never one to avoid the sun. I always tend to keep the heat in my pockets and I use it to warm my love. I’d rather be known for my warmth and prolonged heat instead of coldness and a frozen heart.
Being born two months ahead of you, I wonder how kind the universe was to send you down when I was just learning to reach my tiny fingers out. It’s as if I was looking for you, Ruto, I was looking for the sun, I was looking for My Sun, I was looking for My Haruto all along.
Hence, it didn’t come as a surprise for me when I fell in love with a boy whose name means the sun exactly a month before I turn eighteen. No surprise at all, Ruto, for I was always greedy for the sun, for I was always running to that one bright spot amidst all shadows. No surprise.
And I love how we grew up together.
And I find it comfortable to remember that we are still growing together.
Not being afraid of the sun doesn’t make adulting any less scarier, Haruto, but I have always had this one belief: I shall live while life still does. I shall go while time still goes. I shall shine while sun still does. Without wanting to be a know-it-all, Ruto, I believe you should, too.
So let’s live freely and love completely. Let’s eat as many and drink our cans of Coke happily. Let’s dance carelessly and laugh loudly. Let’s grow bravely and fail carefully. Let’s be around for a long, long, long time, Haruto, and when it’s time for the moon to take back its place, let’s go back to our home.
When it gets kinda heavy, let’s wrap our pinky fingers around each other’s, my Sun.
You will shine, and we can always try again.
Happy birthday.
