#Chapter 71: Birthdays & Beauty

Hannah I plucked the fork up from the plate, taking a deep breath before gingerly spearing one of the thick layers of the decadent chocolate cake. My fingers trembled ever so slightly as I lifted the bite to my lips… and forced myself to eat it. The rich, creamy buttercream frosting melted on my tongue almost instantly, coating the insides of my mouth with sweetness. I closed my eyes, swallowing hard. It tasted incredible—easily the best cake I’d ever eaten, or at least in a very long time. Honestly, I couldn’t remember the last time I even had cake. But as the initial burst of flavor faded, an uncomfortable fullness settled in the pit of my stomach like a lead weight, and I found myself setting the fork back down on the paper plate. My appetite, it seemed, had abandoned me completely. It wasn’t just me, though. I swept my gaze around the small circle of folding chairs positioned haphazardly about the cramped community room, taking in the sight of my fell