Countdown — birthday, or something else?

Someone I care about has been saying things like '9 days left,' then '8 days left.' At first I thought it was a birthday countdown since his birthday is in the 31st, but after everything they've been through, I'm scared it means something else. I don't know if I'm overthinking or if my gut is trying to tell me something. Like they're going to stop at the age this year.