“Birthday Girl” is a short story by Haruki Murakami that explores themes of desire, fate, and the mysterious nature of wishes. The story centers on a young waitress who is scheduled to work on her twentieth birthday. When her manager suddenly becomes ill, she is asked to deliver dinner to the restaurant’s reclusive owner, an elderly man who lives upstairs.

During their brief meeting, the owner realizes it is her birthday and offers to grant her one wish—any wish she desires. The girl makes a private wish, but Murakami never reveals what it is. The story ends ambiguously, leaving readers to wonder what she wished for and whether it came true.

Through its simple plot and open ending, the story reflects Murakami’s signature style—blending everyday life with subtle mystery and inviting readers to think about the power of choice, longing, and the passage of time.