Chapter 13: The Eleventh Birthday
Lily’s eleventh birthday was a milestone of joy. Unlike the tense, quiet days of the past year, this day was loud, chaotic, and vibrant. The apartment was filled with classmates, balloons, and the smell of a homemade chocolate cake. Lily ran around playing games, her laughter echoing off the walls. She wasn't scanning the room for danger; she was just a kid at a party. When it came time to blow out the candles, the room went quiet. Lily closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and blew them all out in one go. As everyone cheered, she looked at her mother. There was an unspoken understanding between them. The wish hadn't been for safety—that was already secured. The wish was for happiness, and looking around the room, they both knew it had already come true.
