Gifts From the Heart
It was early morning, just past seven, when Bethany’s eyes fluttered open. Sunlight spilled gently through the curtains, painting the room with golden hues. Stretching lazily, she yawned, brushed her teeth, and threw on a pair of comfy pajamas. Today was her birthday, her seventeenth, and a quiet thrill bubbled inside her. She tiptoed downstairs, savoring the calm of the morning and imagining a peaceful breakfast with her dad. But the moment she reached the living room, the calm evaporated entirely. “Surprise!” Bethany squealed as her dad and Jake appeared from either side, their voices booming in unison. “Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday! Happy birthday, happy to youuu!” Jake held a cake carefully in his hands, frosting glistening under the morning light. Her dad’s smile stretch
- Writer
