18. Finally

[LIZZIE]

Guided by the two brawny mafia men, I stumbled into an unknown chamber, or at least that’s what I assumed it to be. My eyes were still adjusting to the sudden darkness caused by the hood they had thrust over my head. I mentally prepared myself for the worst-case scenario when a sudden, ear-splitting shriek tore through the stillness, making me jolt in terror. Out of nowhere, a chorus of voices boomed.

“SURPRISE!”

The room burst into a dazzling light as the hood was peeled off from my face.

I was greeted with an explosion of colors and sounds that sent my senses into overdrive. The room was filled with balloons of all shapes and sizes, popping one after another, sending confetti raining down on me, fluttering and swirling through the air in a whirlwind of colors. The shimmering glitters adorned every corner of the room, creating a sparkling effect that made it seem like I was standing in a sea of stars.

Amidst the chaos, I could hear laughter and cheers, and I realized that th