A forgotten birthday When it was I'm going to talk about an occasion that happened about two years ago. It was during the summer, in the middle of July, when I completely forgot something very important. What you forgot I forgot my best friend's birthday. It was a significant day because we had been friends for over a decade, and I had never missed celebrating her birthday before. Usually, I would plan something special, like a dinner or a small party, but that year, it completely slipped my mind. Why you forgot it The reason I forgot was that I was swamped with work. I had just started a new job, and I was trying to make a good impression, so I was working long hours and even on weekends. My mind was so preoccupied with deadlines and meetings that I didn't realize the date until it was too late. Additionally, I hadn't set any reminders on my phone, which I usually do for important dates. And how you felt about it When I finally realized my mistake, I felt terrible. I was filled with guilt and disappointment in myself for letting something so important slip through the cracks. I immediately called her to apologize and explained the situation. Thankfully, she was very understanding and forgave me, but I still felt like I had let her down. To make it up to her, I organized a belated birthday dinner the following weekend and made sure it was extra special. This experience taught me the importance of balancing work and personal life and the necessity of setting reminders for important dates. It was a valuable lesson, but I still cringe when I think about it.

The answer uses a variety of sentence structures, including complex and compound sentences, which enhance the narrative's depth and clarity. For example, "The reason I forgot was that I was swamped with work" and "I immediately called her to apologize and explained the situation." The use of past tense is consistent and appropriate for recounting a past event, as seen in "I forgot my best friend's birthday" and "I was filled with guilt." The answer also effectively uses conditional sentences to express hypothetical situations, such as "To make it up to her, I organized a belated birthday dinner."