At a birthday party br half past the hour br in another state br I watch the pizza br and cake being br served by teens with br plastic gloves. Cups br of ice cream stacked br in rows of threes and pitchers br with an unknown sweetness. br . br Happy Birthday, Adriana br br My pancreas does not br thank you for all the visual br and dietary stimulation br of your day - br a cerebral rush br of sugar, and the noise br above the lethal level br br Happy Birthday, Adriana br br Across the table, br a Korean woman br telling me she only ate br rice with vegetables, br that she had Diabetes br 15 years and aches in her br shoulders with pains br down her legs. br br Pour me br a glass of iced water, br she tells me. It is all br I can have. br The cold water sliding br down into the darkness br of her papercup. br br Happy Birthday, Adriana.