CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: ATHENA

Sophia arrived late last night, so I let her sleep in. So by 10 a.m., I sneaked into her room to serve her breakfast which included a stack of pancakes with maple syrup and a glass of orange juice, as well as a small birthday card beside her pancakes.

I placed the tray on her bedside table, sat on the bed, and yelled "happy birthday Sophia!" She woke up, rubbed her eyes, and sat up in her bed.

"Aren't you a little old for this, Honey?" she asked, a small smile on her face.

"No, I made you breakfast, so go brush your teeth, I have a big day planned for you," I said, trying to contain my excitement about what I had planned for us.

"Can't I just sleep in like I always do?" she grumbled, trying to go back to bed.

"Nope, we have to celebrate because you only turn 27 once."

"Wow, gosh, I'm old," she sighed audibly as she rolled out of bed and walked into the bathroom to brush her teeth. I served her pancakes after she came out of the bathroom and sat back down on the bed.

"Thank you for brea