June 18th arrived, a day that for so many years had held little meaning for Kian beyond being a date on a forgotten file at the orphanage. This year, it was different.🍻
Ariana had organized a small, intimate gathering at their spot near Mysterious Monster Mountain, now lush and green. But it wasn't just the two of them. The guest list was a testament to the family he had built. Lucas and Jessica were there, with a wobbly, giggling Kiara and Kaira trying to help unwrap a large, poorly wrapped box that clearly contained toys. Hazon and Seya brought laughter and a ridiculously expensive bottle of wine.🍾
There were no extravagant gifts. Ariana gave him a beautiful, hardbound sketchbook, its first page inscribed: For the blueprints of our future. From Lucas and Jessica, there was a simple, elegant frame holding a photo of him with the twins, all of them beaming.
As they sang "Happy Birthday," Kian looked around the circle—at the love of his life, his newfound father figure, the woman who had become like a sister, his half-sisters, and his friends. His eyes glistened. For the first time, his birthday wasn't a reminder of what he had lost, but a profound celebration of everything he had found. He blew out the candle on the cake, his wish already fulfilled. He was home. 🎂