He remembered the anniversary I was hoping everyone would forget

Dear Delyara, Today marks ten years since my suicide attempt. I do not celebrate it publicly. Most people in my life do not know the exact date. My oldest friend does. This morning, he sent a message: “Ten years. I’m glad you’re still irritating.” No dramatic speech. No reminder of the hospital, the fear, or what my family endured. Just that. We met for lunch and talked about work, his bad knee, and football. Before leaving, he handed me ten ridiculous scratch cards, one for each year. We won £4. I have complicated feelings about the anniversary: gratitude, shame, sadness for the person I was, anger that I ever believed disappearance was mercy. My friend has never forced the date into a triumph story. He simply remembers that there was a night I almost did not continue and remains glad that I did.