A few weeks had passed since Zana's birthday party.
The bright afternoon in the garden had slowly faded into memory as everyday life returned to its usual rhythm. The silver ribbons had been taken down. The lanterns had been packed away in a storage box. The cake stains had long since been scrubbed from the patio table. Only a few photographs remained on the refrigerator door, capturing Zana's delighted smile and frosting-covered hands as she tried to grab the candle before anyone could stop her.
Since then the days had settled back into their familiar pace.
Work. Errands. Evenings at home.
Yet somewhere within those quiet weeks Willow had begun to feel slightly different.
Morning arrived slowly, but Willow woke as if she had not slept at all.
