I felt a soft kiss on my forehead, which gently stirred me from my sleep. As my eyes opened, Xander's smile greeted me, filled with love.
“Happy birthday, sweetheart,” he whispered softly, brushing a hair from my face.
It took a moment to register his words. Today was my birthday. I was becoming seventeen. Considering the events of the previous year, it was strange to experience something as ordinary as this.
Once I sat up, I noticed my room had transformed overnight. There were vases with wildflowers everywhere, and their nice smell was all around. Over a chair was a beautiful white dress, and it looked soft and shiny in the morning light.
“Xander, it's so pretty,” I said, touching the smooth fabric with my fingers.
He smiled even bigger, happy to see my reaction. “This is just the b
