The need to be alone

at least on my birthday.

Each year, as my birthday approaches, I feel the familiar pull to escape. It’s become a tradition of sorts, and the desire has only grown since I got sober. I crave silence. I need solitude. No distractions—just the gentle sway of trees, my books, a flirty drink, and my dogs. These quiet moments are my chance to reconnect with myself in a way that’s har…