bChapter /bb193 /b

Aurora’s PO.V

When I opened my eyes, the sunlight filtering through the curtains seemed impossibly bright. My heart skipped a beat when I turned my head slightly and saw him there, still asleep. Caleb’s dark hair was a tousled mess, and his chest rose and fell with the kind of calm that made me think he was far too peaceful for someone who’d–well, for someone who’d been involved in what we’d donest night.

My cheeks burned just remembering it, and I buried my face in my hands. What had I been thinking? How had I let myself get so swept up in him?

But even though I wasn’t even eighteen yet, Caleb and I were only a few months apart and after a few days, the age won’t even matter anymore. But still, facing him in the light of day after what we did made my cheeks heat with embarrassment and my stomach tighten with an emotion I couldn’t quite name.

I couldn’t stay here. Not like this. Not when the memories ofst night were so fresh and raw, and he could wake up at any moment. The thought of his eyes opening and catching me staring at him, wanting more–it was too much.

Carefully, so carefully, I slipped out of bed, doing my best not to jostle the mattress. He didn’t stir, thankfully, and I let out a breath of relief as I grabbed my shoes from the floor and tiptoed toward

the door.

Once I was out in the hallway, I leaned against the wall for a moment, clutching my chest like that

would somehow stop my racing heart.

“What were you thinking, Aurora?” I whispered to myself. It wasn’t as if I had some sort of grand

n or strategy going intost night. It had just happened–like a storm that I couldn’t stop, no

matter how hard I tried. And yet, as much as I told myself it was reckless, as much as I tried to scold

myself, I couldn’t bring myself to regret a single second of it.

I shook my head and started down the hall, heading for my own room, hoping to bury myself in

nkets and somehow figure out how to handle this whole situation. But as I turned the corner, bI /b

stopped short.

The maids were already awake, bustling around with what seemed like boundless energy for this early in the morning. One of them was perched on a stedder, hanging up streamers, while another carefully arranged vibrant flowers in a vase on a side table.

“What’s going on?” I asked, my voice rough from sleep and a little too loud.

One of the maids, the one arranging the flowers, turned to me with a bright smile. “Good morning,

bMiss /bbAurora/b! bWe’re /bbpreparing /bbfor /bbthe /bparty tomorrow, bof /bcourseb. /bbDid /bbyou /bforget?

bOf /bbcourse/bb, /bI’d forgotten. Betweenst night and the chaos still bswirling /bbin /bbmy /bbhead/bb, /bbthe /bbparty/b, whatever it might be for, might as well have been a distant memory.

b“/bbRight/bb, /bthe…party,” I said quickly, nodding like I had everything under control. “I didn’t bforget/b, Justb… /bwasn’t expecting you all to be up so early.”

The maid chuckled. “It’s tradition to start at sunriseb. /bThere’s a lot to do, after allb./bb” /b

“Of course,” I mumbled, trying to keep my expression neutral. Inside, though, my thoughts were spinning. Caleb would be up soon, and we’d have to see each other eventually, especially bwith /bbthe /bparty bringing everyone together. How was I supposed to look him in the eye after what happenedb? /b

“Miss Aurora, are you feeling alrightb?/b”

I blinked at the maid’s question, realizing I must’ve been–standing there, staring off into space.

“I’m fine,” I said quickly, forcing a smile. “Just tired. Didn’t get much sleep.”

She didn’t look entirely convinced but nodded and went back to her work, leaving me free to retreat to my room.

But as I walked into the main hallway, rubbing the sleep from my eyes, and paused at the sight of the maids bustling about. There was an unusual energy in the air–like the anticipation of

something.

This couldn’t be just for any party, right? Then what was I missing? I think I was forgetting something big…

“Excuse me,” I asked aloud, hoping to catch someone’s attention. “Can you please tell me what’s going on? What is this…party about?”

One of the maids, a woman named Martha who always had a kind smile for me, straightened up and

nced my way.

“Miss Caroline’s birthday ising up,” she said, her tone cheerful. “We’re starting the preparations today. The packhouse will be decorated by tomorrow evening.”

“Caroline’s birthday?” I repeated, dumbfounded. “Oh my god! How could I have forgotten Carolin birthday!”

I shouldn’t even call myself her friend! I was such a horrible person! How could I have forgotten Caroline’s birthday?

“You’ve been busy, dear,” Martha said with a knowing look. “Besides, you’d have found out

bChapter /b193

beventually/bb. /b

bI /bsighed, knowing that there was nothing that can be done, but at least I was bd /bbthat /bI bgot /bthe memo on time. “Fair enough. I’m bso /bexcited for her, though. I haven’t seen her bsince /byesterday. Is

bshe /baround?”

“Probably in her house,” another maid chimed in. “She doesn’t arrive at the packhouse buntil /bten bin /b

the morning.”

Right. Grateful for their help, I nodded, thanked them for letting me know, and headed upstairs. bMy /bthoughts shifted as I climbed the steps. Caroline’s birthday was going to be wonderful, bbut /bsomething tugged at the back of my mind, something I couldn’t quite put my finger on.

When I reached my room, I realized I was still wearing Caleb’s shirt fromst nightb, /band the faint scent of him lingered, making me pause for just a moment. Shaking it off, I grabbed some fresh clothes and headed to the bathroom for a quick shower. As the water cascaded over me, washing away the remnants of sleep, the nagging thought returnedb, /bsharper this time.

Caroline’s birthday. It was just around the corner. But… bso /bwas mine.

I froze, my hand hovering over the shampoo bottle. My birthday. I had no idea what the exact date was. For as long as I could remember, it had always been a taboo subject in my house, something that my parents often fought over. The realization hit me hard, a strange mix of emotions swirling in

my chest–confusion, sadness, and a flicker of hope.

I leaned against the shower wall, letting the water soothe me as I tried to piece it together. It didn’t

matter, did it? Birthdays weren’t something I had celebrated much in the past, but still… it felt odd

not knowing.

When I finished and got dressed, I sat on the edge of my bed, staring out the window. Caroline’s

birthday would be a celebration, a moment of joy for everyone in the packhouse. But what about

mine? Would anyone even remember? Did I even want them to?

The thought lingered, unsettling yet strangelyforting, as I resolved to make Caroline’s day unforgettable, even if my own was shrouded in uncertainty.

bChapter /bbComments /b

FurrMimi

I know it’s fiction, but wouldn’t the school have her birthday in her registration recordsb??? /b

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