Carla froze, then hurried into the kitchen. What she saw stunned her. Lily sat on a chair too tall for her, clapping out of rhythm, smiling brightly. Across from her, Ethan—the distant, composed man she worked for—had red eyes and a hesitant smile.
“Make a wish!” Lily said. “But don’t say it out loud!”
Ethan closed his eyes and blew out the candle.
At that moment, Carla rushed in, pale with fear.
“Mr. Ethan, I’m so sorry—I didn’t see her leave—it won’t happen again—”
She reached for Lily, but Ethan raised a hand.
“Wait.”
She froze.
“Is she your daughter?”
“Yes, sir. I didn’t have anyone to leave her with. I’m sorry…”
“You don’t need to apologize,” he said quietly. “She’s the only one who sang to me today.”
Carla didn’t know what to say. Lily spoke instead.
“He was alone. I was helping.”
Ethan slid the cake toward them.
“Sit. No one should eat birthday cake alone.”
Carla sat stiffly, unsure, but Lily was already happily digging in, asking questions.
“How old are you?”
“Thirty-two.”
“That’s old!”
Ethan laughed—really laughed—for the first time in years.
That night, something shifted. Not dramatically, just a small crack in the routine where life began to seep in.