Chapter 24

The voice note ended and automatically replayed, over and over. "Today's your birthday, Nester. I made a cake. I'm waiting for you to come home so we can eat it together. "I'll be waiting, no matter how late it is." On the countless birthdays Nester had forgotten, Sabrina had waited alone with the cake until deep into the night, dawn, or until all that was left for her to eat by herself was the melted frosting and hardened cake. Tears kept spilling from the corners of Nester's dry eyes as he listened to the voice note. He stared at the ceiling as his gaze slowly unfocused, but the corner of his lips lifted ever so slightly as if he had just remembered something unbearably beautiful. With the last of his strength, he spoke soundlessly to the air, cold photo frame in his arms, and the looping voice note that would never receive a response. In a hoarse voice, he uttered, "Happy birthday… Sab…" The words were barely audible and immediately dissolved into the cold air. In his arms, t