CHARLES FOX.
After dinner, Ruby was unusually excited, buzzing with energy as she cleaned up the table. I watched her, feeling the guilt continue to gnaw at me. Every time I looked at her, it was as if I was staring at a ticking clock, counting down to the moment when everything would fall apart. Bruno’s words echoed in my mind, refusing to let go.
"So, I have been thinking about your birthday," Ruby said, her voice breaking through my thoughts. She looked at me with a playful grin, her eyes sparkling excitedly. "It’s only two months away, and I have planned something special. I’m not going to tell you what it is, though. It’s a surprise!"
I tried to smile, but it felt forced, weak. "A surprise?" I asked, my voice tight.
"Yeah!" She nodded enthusiastically, clearly excited about whatev
