A week later, Jonathan woke up again, bleary, sore, and in the worst mind fog he’d been in so far, to the sound of his phone ringing. In a daze, he reached for his phone, and saw that it was an incoming video call from his mom.

He covered himself with his blanket, and put on a smile, knowing what was coming. Jonathan answered the call, and immediately both his mom and dad were on the screen, launching into the ‘Happy Birthday’ song.

Jonathan forced a laugh ...