Today is my birthday. Nineteen. I almost laugh when I think about it, because, in a way, it feels like I’ve been waiting for this forever, and yet, it still surprises me. A part of me expects to feel different, to wake up and somehow be more, be ready. But I’m still just me, standing in this half-ruined castle, holding on to something that might already be lost.
My parents arrived early. They brought small gifts, things that they thought might make my days here easier—warm blankets, a new lantern, even a cake. My mother smiled as she held it out to me, her eyes filled with warmth.
“I know you’re stubborn, Faith,” she said, “but even you deserve to take a moment to celebrate. Let today be about you.”
It was a small celebration, just the three of us and the wolves who’ve kept me company f
