As a kid, there was always one wish I made. Every birthday, before blowing out the candle, I would quietly hope for the same thing. It never changed.

A small, ordinary moment, but one that carries so much of what I felt growing up. This painting is a reflection of that wish. A memory of loneliness, hope, and the belief that maybe this year, things would be different. Looking back now, I realize that some wishes stay with us long after the candles are blown out, becoming part of the stories we carry and the people we become.