Chapter III
I picked up a flat, retangular parkage wrapped in simple brown paper and sexy was s
unfamiliar handwriting and with no tag too.
“Who’s this from?” I asked, holding it up.
Asher peered at it. “Dunno. It was just with the others on the porch?
“Well, open it,” Jamal urged.
I slowly peeled back the paper. It was a book. The Vae lost princess across it. The frier was worn the ging es opened it carefully. On the next page, in that same neat handwriting, was an increm
‘For Elara, who always loved the hidden places.
With hope.” I read out..
Maya snatched the book from my hands, her face carefully neutral. “Oh, classic My grandma loves the damn hey” She lipped through the pages briskly.. “Can you lend me this when you’re through with it? I love to reread in an Ara Super interesting.” She closed it and placed it firmly on a coffee table, away from the other gifts.
amal looked at me. “You okay? You look kinda pale again.”
Just… tired,” I managed. “It’s a lot.”
Okay, one more then your gifts opening will be postpone,” Asher declared, trying to lighten my mood. He rummaged in that bile and pulled out a long, slender box wrapped in deep blue paper. “This one’s from me and Dad. For real”
t is a new phone. The latest model, still in its sealed box.
Still can’t believe my former phone got crushed while in coma.,” I said, staring at it.
We know,” Asher smiled, coming over. “Consider it an upgrade. A fresh start. We’ve already transferred your number. Your
hotos and contacts are backed up on the cloud.”
Thank you. It’s… amazing.”
Set it up later,” Helen said, her therapist voice gently firm. “For now, just be here.”
amal must have seen my eyes drift back to the book. He leaned in, his voice low. “Hey. You want me to get rid of a Tou n the recycle bin and get you another one?”
She should leave a gift gotten for her by her family and accept yours?” Maya shunned.
I’m not talking about the phone girl, clams your nerves down devil.”
Maya shot me a look “Was he really talking about the book?.”
gave a tiny, almost imperceptible nod.
I didn’t realize how tired I was until the house finally went quiet.
Not silent–just… softer. The music had died down. People trickled out with lingering hugs and giving me promises to visit
1/4
Chapter III
again.
I sat crow–legged on the living room floor, surrounded by the mountain of gifts that had somehow reled sore exter
Maya plopped down beside me with a dramatic sigh “Okay Moment of truth Which one’s year fourber
“I don’t know.” 1 hissed. “Why are you testing me?”
She grinned. “Because I want to, duh”
Asher sprawled on the rug opposite us, hands laced behind his head. “She hasn’t even opened half of them”
“I’m overwhelmed,” I muttered, nudging a gift bag with my toe. “Emotionally and spatially
Nolan hovered near the coffee table, pretending not to stare. He cleared his throat. “You don’t have to open everythi tonight.”
Helen, standing by the doorway with crossed arms and a fond smile, snorted. “Oh yes she does.”
“Mum-”
“You are not going to bed without seeing how loved you are,” Helen said. “Doctor’s orders.”
Robert lifted his mug. “I doubt I heard the doctor say anything like that but I’m not saying anything.”
‘Your ear problems are getting more serious darling,” she replied.
I laughed, shaking my head. “Okay. Okay. Just pass me the gifts one at a time please…”
Nora handed me a medium–sized box wrapped in pale blue paper. “Open this one, it’s mine. I want to see your face when you see it.”
“That sounds threatening.”
‘It is. Because you must like it.”
I peeled back the paper carefully.
I froze.
“Wow” I breathed out. Inside the box is a delicate silver necklace, the pendant shaped like a small crescent moon wrapped around a tiny star.
Nora leaned forward. “You like it?”
“I” My throat tightened. “I love it.”
“It’s adjustable,” she said quickly. “And hypoallergenic. And I checked, like, three times to make sure it wouldn’t irritate your
skin.”
1
I laughed softly. “You’re insane.”
She smiled. “Wear it tomorrow, I have a matching pair too.”
“Tomorrow,” I promised.
2/4
5:47 pm
Chapter 111
Maya grabbed another gift and shoved it into my lap. “Next. Rip it. No savoring”
“This one feels… very heavy.”
Asher smirked. “You are too lazy.”
I opened the box.
Inside contains a framed photo of us in the cafeteria, eating.
As vouchers
It was a candid shot–me in the middle of laughing, head thrown back, eyes closed. Maya was mid–eye roll. Asher was leaning into frame, clearly trying to photobomb. Nolan was half–cut off but smiling.
My chest clenched.
“When did you take this?” I asked quietly.
Asher shifted. “It’s a secret. It’s cool right?”
I stared at the photo. “It is.”
They hummed and kept quiet.
“It really is a masterpiece,” I continued,
Asher nodded slowly. “I’m glad you love it…”
I swallowed and set the frame aside carefully. “Okay. Next.”
Maya sighed. “Just take anything.”
I reached for a tall gift bag with cartoon frogs on it.
“This screams you,” I told Jamal who had been quiet since most of my classmates left.
Just open it.” He laughed
Inside was a hoodie–dark green, oversized, soft. On the front, stitched in small white letters is; Angel without wings.”
I pressed it to my chest without thinking.
‘I love this,” I muttered.
He rubbed the back of his neck. “My aunt picked the words.”
“Wow! I really love it,” I said. ”
Helen cleared her throat. “There are gifts from people who couldn’t come.”
She bent over and handed me a small box from the pile.
3/4
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
