The five of them smiled as if they belonged together.
Behind them, on the grand villa’s pristine wall, my father’s personally inscribed calligraphy read:
[A harmonious family brings prosperity.]
The cruel irony twisted deep inside me, cutting sharper than any blade.
The five large characters burned into my vision, searing through my eyes and making them sting. Their family, because it had never been mine, had never included me.
I drifted home in a daze, collapsing onto the bed and staring blankly at the ceiling. Time lost meaning, slipping away unnoticed until a familiar voice outside the door jolted me back to reality.
They had returned.
The bedroom door creaked open and Elijah stepped inside. Without hesitation, he walked to my bedside and bent down, wrapping his arms around me.
"Wife, I’m sorry. Work has kept me busy these past few days. I haven’t had time to accompany you."
"The day after tomorrow is your birthday," he continued. "I spoke with my parents and we’ve decided to throw you a grand celebration."
Silence.
I didn’t respond. Didn’t even look at him.
He pressed a lingering kiss to my forehead, tucked the blanket around me like I was something fragile and then turned and left.