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It's spring, you're young, you're lovely, you have a right to be happy. — Shirley Jackson, We Have Always Lived in the Castle

It's spring. Spring days are soft: the sweet scent of cherry blossoms permeates the air, pink petals flutter gently as they sway to the wind's tune. It is the kind of day where you'd want to sit in your garden with a glass of iced tea and let golden rays of the sun kiss your skin. The heavens above are painted with cerulean blue, its palette adorned with clouds that you can spend time figuring out what shapes they make. Everywhere you lay your sight on, it is all brimming with signs of new beginnings – vibrant colors of budding blooms on the ground have replaced the traces of winter.

You're young, you're lovely. Just like the softness of spring and its cherished blooms, you are like that, too. It's in the way you approach people gently, the way you give encouragements and reassurance, to how you never cease to appreciate those around you. It is fascinating how whenever you are around, this safe and comfortable feeling seeps into our hearts. I thought of it this way: if the world is a blistering sun, you are the cooling shade of a tree we always seek to rest under; if life is a cacophony, you are the tranquility we keenly long for. You would be the sunset if you were a time of day. The warmth radiating from the gentle orange glow, the serenity that encases your heart, and fond memories swirling in your mind – you evoke this kind of tender feelings in us. Thank you for gracing us with your kindness, for always sprinkling joy wherever you go, and for being such a wonderful person and friend to us.

You have a right to be happy. As one of the flowers to bloom after winter, tulips remind me of perseverance. The image of it rising above the ground that was covered in snow and blossoming beautifully is inspiring; it ties back to you. Despite what the world has thrown at you, you never fail to get yourself up and face the world once more. The weariness caused by battling them must not have been easy for you to endure, and I want to thank you for holding on – for still being here with us. I hope you know that you do not have to shoulder all your burdens alone. Through joy and sorrow, we are with you in every step of your way, and we are here for you to lean on to – always.

Once again, thank you... no words could convey how grateful I am to have a kind friend like you in my life.

Happy birthday to you. May the softness of spring stay with you forever. Thank you for being born, and keep on blooming beautifully, our Lily. ♡