Dear Matthew,

Happy 35th birthday! Today is bittersweet, for sure. What are you doing for your birthday? I'm working until 3:00, and then Mom and I are going out to dinner with Aunt Mary and Uncle Mike tonight for your party. This letter is my second gift to you. I finished my first gift yesterday—a new pitch for the Wattpad Originals Program on Wattpad. I'm not expecting to get a contract, but hey, at least I tried. I'll get your story heard, Matthew; we merely need to be patient.

The story is a new draft of something I wrote freshman year of college, Shadows of Renial Kingdom, about a ghost boy who learns he's the true heir of the kingdom, even though he loses his loved one in the process—like me with you. I've been working on it for a few weeks and even drew a "wonderful" map of Renial Kingdom—LOL! Again, I'm not expecting a contract, but happy birthday regardless!

As I mentioned, Mom is in town for a few days. Since she and Dad are flying out for a month-long trip in Greece on Sunday, she dropped Sophie off and helped me with my car, which has a slow oil leak. Hopefully, it's nothing serious and nothing too expensive. That car, though—LOL! It has so many problems! Oh, well, I'll eventually get another one.

Anyway, a new tropical system is brewing in the Atlantic Ocean. Guess what its name is? Helene. Helene, Matthew, and you were born the day Hurricane Hugo hit. Is that not a coincidence, or what? Did you send this storm, Big Brother? It looks like she'll spare Charleston but not Florida. I think the worst we're getting is rain and a little wind. Thank you for looking out for us!

The job is going well. I'm looking into getting another part-time job with them to have full-time hours and more money for insurance and other life needs. Wish me luck! I hope I can eventually go full-time with them, but it won't be for six months to a year, it looks like, which is fine. Everyone starts somewhere. The job at COFC didn't work out (I'm not too disappointed because communication with them was awful), so it's back to the drawing board. The joys of being a young adult, right, Matthew? Without you, I've had to learn it myself, and we're making progress. Next time, though, don't die when I'm right on the brink of new adulthood, okay? A little sister needs her older sibling most during this time.

Happy birthday again, Matthew! I hope you like Shadows of Renial Kingdom. Have a fantastic day!

Love,

Vika