the answer to your question Is
A. all ready
What is the short story about, we can't answer without more details ლ,ᔑ•ﺪ͟͠•ᔐ.ლ
I hate to say it, but your editorial is going to sound very school newspaperish if you use 1st person.
I am so sorry that I couldn’t attend your birthday party, I just have a lot of things going on and I’m trying to keep my family safe during this pandemic I hope you can understand my situation, although I wish you a happy # birthday, have a great day.
One way I would write a letter on why I couldn’t attend someone’s birthday