[ZEPH]

“Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you. Happy birthday, dear Zephy. Happy birthday to you.” I sang softly to the lighter that I flipped on.

I sighed, looking at the small flame a second more before placing it on the sill. I sat down on the bed, staring out of the window.

Ms. Hera had come in earlier that day and brought me a small, made-from-scratch apple jelly lemon cake, one of my favorites.

She would usually wait until later—coming along with the Stones who would ...