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Posted: Wed Feb 11, 2026 1:15 pm
Chapter 17. Birthday
Today is September 14, 2025. All this time, I haven’t responded to anyone’s
birthday wishes. My birthday was on September 12, and so many people
wanted to congratulate me, but I didn’t reply to anyone. I felt that first, once
my birthday was over, I needed to focus on my notes — on everything that
happened to me regarding the tenth volume of the novel “Alternative History”.
Friends have been writing and asking: “Was there anything unusual on your
birthday?” They wanted to know if the aliens or higher powers congratulated
me in some way, and how I felt on that day. There were so many questions like
that. Of course, I will answer all my loved ones and friends, but considering
how the human brain works, I knew that if I told everyone everything first
and then sat down to work on the tenth volume, I wouldn’t be able to describe
it all as deeply, emotionally, or in such detail. So, I decided the book must
come first. I will, of course, describe what happened and what took place in
a veiled manner. I won’t say it’s the first time, but I have actually very often
spent my birthdays alone — turning off my phone and just staying home.
I’ve had quite a few birthdays like that. I’m not the type to throw big events
or gather crowds, but this time, for my 35th birthday, I decided I needed
to “go out into the world,” to step into the world of people — otherwise, I’m
just becoming a hermit-writer. Since I am constantly changing locations
and moving, I couldn’t organize a full-scale celebration with all my loved
ones, but two friends — two people — were able to attend and visited me for
my birthday. These guests have only just left. I wanted to take whichever
friends could make it and go out, as they say, into the world of people. I didn’t
plan anything. I didn’t buy anything in advance, didn’t stock up, and didn’t
book any places. The goal was very simple: on September 12, my birthday,
I just had to go somewhere. The main thing was not to stay at home. So,
on the day of my birthday, I just followed the first thought that popped
into my head about where I wanted to go. I called a taxi and went there,
taking my two friends with me. I didn’t know what would happen next. Two
hours later, when we had to decide where to go next, I spontaneously just
picked a spot at random on the map and said, “Let’s go here,” and called
another taxi. I moved through various places where I had never been before.
Today is September 14, 2025. All this time, I haven’t responded to anyone’s
birthday wishes. My birthday was on September 12, and so many people
wanted to congratulate me, but I didn’t reply to anyone. I felt that first, once
my birthday was over, I needed to focus on my notes — on everything that
happened to me regarding the tenth volume of the novel “Alternative History”.
Friends have been writing and asking: “Was there anything unusual on your
birthday?” They wanted to know if the aliens or higher powers congratulated
me in some way, and how I felt on that day. There were so many questions like
that. Of course, I will answer all my loved ones and friends, but considering
how the human brain works, I knew that if I told everyone everything first
and then sat down to work on the tenth volume, I wouldn’t be able to describe
it all as deeply, emotionally, or in such detail. So, I decided the book must
come first. I will, of course, describe what happened and what took place in
a veiled manner. I won’t say it’s the first time, but I have actually very often
spent my birthdays alone — turning off my phone and just staying home.
I’ve had quite a few birthdays like that. I’m not the type to throw big events
or gather crowds, but this time, for my 35th birthday, I decided I needed
to “go out into the world,” to step into the world of people — otherwise, I’m
just becoming a hermit-writer. Since I am constantly changing locations
and moving, I couldn’t organize a full-scale celebration with all my loved
ones, but two friends — two people — were able to attend and visited me for
my birthday. These guests have only just left. I wanted to take whichever
friends could make it and go out, as they say, into the world of people. I didn’t
plan anything. I didn’t buy anything in advance, didn’t stock up, and didn’t
book any places. The goal was very simple: on September 12, my birthday,
I just had to go somewhere. The main thing was not to stay at home. So,
on the day of my birthday, I just followed the first thought that popped
into my head about where I wanted to go. I called a taxi and went there,
taking my two friends with me. I didn’t know what would happen next. Two
hours later, when we had to decide where to go next, I spontaneously just
picked a spot at random on the map and said, “Let’s go here,” and called
another taxi. I moved through various places where I had never been before.