“Happy Birthday, Adrian!” she sang softly as she entered, her voice masking her worry. Adrian’s sleepy eyes opened to the sight of the makeshift cake, and his face lit up with a wide, genuine smile. Lucy, his little sister, woke too, clapping her hands excitedly and cheering for her brother.
For a moment, Brianna felt a flicker of peace. Watching Adrian and Lucy laugh and dance around the room, she marveled at how resilient they were, their joy untainted by the struggles they faced. It was moments like these that reminded her why she worked so tirelessly.