I turned 20 this year. To be honest, I thought it’d be more special. Don’t get me wrong, I’m grateful for everything I got. It’s just that I miss when I’d get cards alongside my gifts. I’d asked my parents for a gift, the shark soft toy from Ikea (the blahaj, you know the one). Instead, they’d just asked if I wanted cash instead. While the money I got was worth more, I wished that they’d gotten me the shark instead. I also wished they’d given me a birthday card as well. To say that they’re proud of me or something.

Written by Amir Ahmad Razif