Summer's PovThe house was quiet when I walked in, which was the best possible thing it could have been.No one in the hallway. No one in the sitting room. The dining room was empty. I could hear something faint from upstairs, music maybe, or a television, but nothing close enough to intercept me, and I moved fast, head down, bag over my shoulder, straight for the staircase like a woman with a plan.I made it to my room without seeing a single person.I closed the door behind me and stood there for a second in the quiet and felt the specific relief of someone who had successfully avoided something they were not ready for. Small victory. I would take it.The birthday dress went straight onto the hanger where it belonged, and I smoothed it out and hung it properly and turned around, and that was when I saw them.Gifts. Stacked on the other side of the room, on and around the chair by the window, a proper pile of them, wrapped things in different sizes, bags with tissue paper sticking ou
Last Updated : 2026-05-12 Read more