EVERTON ( POV )
After leaving the hospital, relieved that Alaxia was recovering, I felt a mix of emotions. Her ordeal weighed on me, and I harbored feelings for her that I couldn’t fully understand. Despite the exhaustion of the day, my thoughts were on planning a surprise for her return home—a gesture to remain anonymous.
In my car, ideas for her upcoming birthday swirled in my head. She loved books, music, art, and nature, and I wanted to craft a day that combined all these elements. The plan took shape: a morning visit to a museum with an ancient Egypt exhibit she’d mentioned, a picnic lunch in the park with her favorite foods and a book of poetry, and a beach trip to end the day, complete with a starfish pendant as a gift.
I envisioned her delight at these surprises, hoping to conve
