Chapter 35

The smile on Yesenia's face froze. It took her a moment to force it back. "I was just kidding! Why are you so serious?"

Clifford's lips curved into a slight smile. "So was I."

...

At the restaurant, people came and went.

Latisha sat quietly, waiting. An hour passed, then another. Clifford never came.

She rested her chin in her hand, watching as the city lights outside began to extinguish one by one, the bustling streets growing quiet.

The restaurant slowly emptied, like a receding tide, leaving her alone in a vast, silent space. The lights outside went dark, and soon, the lights inside the restaurant dimmed as well.

The man who had promised to celebrate her birthday with her had never shown up.

"Mrs. Lambert."

A voice called out from behind her.

Latisha turned to see the manager and two servers standing by her table.

"We're about to close," the manager said with a gentle smile.

It took her a moment to process his words. She looked around at the dimly lit restaurant and realized she was the only one left.

She couldn't say she was disappointed. She was used to it. Five hours wasn't so long, not compared to the countless nights she had spent waiting for him in an empty house.

Just as she was about to get up and leave, a server brought out a cake.

"Mrs. Lambert, today is your birthday. We had this cake prepared for you. Happy birthday."

They placed the small cake in front of her. "It's almost midnight," the manager said. "You should make a wish before you go."

Latisha stared at the single candle flickering on the cake. Its light wasn't a celebration; it was a reflection of the pity in the manager's eyes.

She tried to smile, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. She closed them and said silently to herself, *Happy birthday, Latisha.*

She didn't make a wish. Wishes made on birthday cakes didn't come true. She had learned that a long time ago.

The manager watched her small, fragile frame and sighed. He had seen her sitting there for hours. The man who made the reservation had arranged everything, promising someone would join her, but no one ever did. To be stood up on your own birthday... how pitiful.

Latisha opened her eyes and blew out the candle. The manager quickly cut a slice of cake for her. She offered some to them, and they accepted with smiles.

The manager then pulled a small plastic figurine from his pocket. "This is a souvenir from our restaurant. Please consider it a birthday gift from us."

Latisha accepted the small figurine and nodded with a smile, signing *thank you*.

It was only then that the manager realized she couldn't speak.

Not wanting to delay them further, Latisha took a bite of the cake. The rich, greasy frosting hit her tongue, and her stomach churned. She clenched her jaw and forced herself to swallow it down.

She couldn't take another bite. She typed a message on her phone for the manager: [Thank you for everything. I'll be going now.]

"Safe travels, Mrs. Lambert. Would you like us to box up the rest of the cake?"

She glanced at the cake. Even though she couldn't eat it, she asked them to pack it for her.

As soon as she left the restaurant, she ran to a nearby trash can and was violently sick. When her stomach was finally empty, she felt a little better.

The night air was cold. Etherea City's damp air clung to her, the wind chilling her to the bone. She walked along the nearly deserted sidewalk, her shadow stretching long and thin under the dim streetlights. She stepped on her own shadow, moving forward one step at a time.

After walking for some time, she saw a figure hunched over by a trash can in the distance. She blinked and walked closer.

It was an old woman with a stooped back. She looked familiar. Latisha approached and gently tapped her on the shoulder.