I sat on a chair at the dining table, resting my forehead on my clenched fists, pondering how the days might unfold into boredom, monotony, pain, and fear after retiring from the job I dedicated forty years of my life to. "Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you..." That's how my wife entered with my children and grandchildren at that moment, carrying a cake adorned with the number sixty-four and topped with a candle flickering in all directions, seeming restless because of my state, as if it alone understood my feelings. With a gentle breath, the flame went out, and applause erupted celebrating my birthday, followed by mobile cameras capturing photos of me, with my mouth wide open, leading them to believe I was smiling, although I was crying in the same way. Mostafa Jouni, a Lebanese who studied engineering in Italy, later transitioned between teaching, work, and engineering. Besides short stories, he wrote vernacular poetry and authored a book titled "And I Kept My Promise." Published by Dar Al-Farabi: Me and the Thief of Rome (short stories), 2015.

Publishing house: Dar Al-Farabi Publishing and Distribution

Number of Pages: 128

Year of publication: 2016