Matthew trudged through the office, his head down and his shoulders hunched. It was his birthday, but he didn't feel like celebrating. He never did. Not since the day 'she', died on his tenth birthday.

He couldn't remember much about the accident that took her life, just that it happened on his eighth birthday party. Ever since then, every birthday was a reminder of his loss. He didn't want anyone to wish him a happy birthday, didn't want any attention drawn to the day. It was just another day to him.

Matthew was an intern at the company where he worked, juggling his duties while pursuing a Masters in computer science. He spent most of his days behind a computer screen, typing away lines of code. It was a solitary existence, and that was just how he liked it.

As he walked out of the office, he tried to ignore the decorations that had been put up in his honor. The balloons, the streamers, the cake waiting in the break room. He just wanted to go home and forget that today was anything special. "How can they not remember that this day is cursed?" he thought.

But as he stepped outside, he felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned to see some of his classmates, fellow interns, standing behind him with a small wrapped present.

"Happy birthday, Matthew," one of them said, a warm smile on their face.

Matthew tried to force a smile, but he knew it came out as more of a grimace. "Thanks, guys. But I don't really celebrate my birthday."

His classmates exchanged glances, but one of them held out the present. "We know, but we wanted to do something special for you. It's just a little something."

Matthew took the gift, feeling a pang of skepticism. His instincts told him something was off, that their kindness might not be genuine. "Thanks, everyone. I appreciate it."

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He turned to walk away, but one of his classmates called after him. "Hey, Matthew. Don't let whatever is on your mind weigh you down. If you ever want to talk or hang out, we're here for you. We need you here."

Matthew sneered in his heart, knowing all too well that their concern was as fake as their smiles. He had been carrying them since the first day of the internship, doing a major share of their work under the guise of 'asking for help.' He knew they needed him, and he disdained them for it. Despite his contempt, he continued to assist them because he had nothing better to do, and it was somewhat easy for him.

Matthew didn't respond, just kept walking. But their words stayed with him, and as he drove home, he couldn't shake the thought that their intentions were not entirely sincere.

When he got home, Matthew opened the present his classmates had given him. It was a dark fantasy novel, something he was interested in. But the gesture felt hollow, and the book felt meaningless.

His colleagues were mere parasites, feeding off his capabilities without a shred of genuine care. 'Lyra would have never done this.'

It had been almost 15 years since Lyra had passed away. The memories of his friend were still so vivid in his mind, but as the years had gone by, he had almost forgotten what her face looked like.

He tried to conjure up an image of Lyra's smiling face, but all he could see was a blur of colors and shapes. It was as if his mind was trying to shield him from the pain of remembering too much.

He sat down on his couch, staring blankly at the wall. His mind was consumed with memories of Lyra; he could almost hear her infectious giggle echoing through his thoughts. The two of them had been inseparable since childhood. She was his only friend.

He remembered the way Lyra's eyes would crinkle when she smiled, and the sound of her infectious giggle.

As Matthew lay down on his couch, exhaustion taking over, he felt a slight smile form on his lips. The memories of Lyra had flooded his mind, but they were bittersweet now. The pain was still there, but so was the love and happiness they had shared.

Tears started to form in the corner of his eyes as he drifted off to sleep with a sense of comfort and sadness.

The weight of his grief had been heavy on his shoulders, but for a brief moment, he felt a sense of peace. It was as if Lyra's spirit had come to visit him, reminding him that even though she was gone, their friendship was still alive in his heart.