“Let’s get this party started,” Kafziel said with a grin, trying to sound confident even though his stomach was already fluttering with nerves and excitement.
Aniela laughed, the sound light and genuine, and nodded eagerly. She loved seeing him like this—alive, smiling, not weighed down by confusion or pain.
They headed to a carnival near the mall, the bright lights already visible from a distance. The place was called Starlight Carnival, and it looked like something out of a dream—colorful tents, flashing bulbs, music drifting through the air.
As they walked closer, the smell of popcorn, cotton candy, and fried dough wrapped around them. Aniela’s eyes sparkled as she took everything in.
“This place is amazing,” she said softly.
Kafziel watched her more than the rides. She looks happy
