ISABEL I was trying to pick a dress from my wardrobe when I heard someone slam the door opposite my room, and then, running feet followed. Mavis opened my door, said a quick goodbye, and rushed out. Before I could even respond, he was gone. I stood there in surprise wondering what was going on. I decided to get dressed and go check on him. I hurriedly chose an outfit and dressed. The bandage was still around my head, at the point where I got the injury. I made my way to Mavis's room, dreading what I might find. I knocked on his door, but there was no answer. Bennett caught me in the corridor, peering into Mavis' empty room, and was surprised "Hey, what are you doing?" Bennett asked. I jumped, startled by her presence. "I didn't know you were here, how long have you been here?" She remained calm, looking around to see if we were alone in the corridor. I quickly straightened up and tried to look casual, but I knew I must have looked guilty initially. "I was just, um, checking to

Isabel DARLING,MISSING YOUR BIRTHDAY IS A TOUGH PILL TO SWALLOW, BUT LET ME BE CLEAR THAT YOU WILL ALWAYS BE IN MY THOUGHTS AND MY HEART. NOTHING CAN CHANGE THAT FACT. I'M SURE THAT MAVIS WILL MAKE YOUR BIRTHDAY EXTRA SPECIAL, JUST LIKE YOU. I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT YOU'RE LOVED, EVEN THOUGH I'M NOT PHYSICALLY THERE.WITH LOVE FROM MOM. I heaved after reading Mom's short message."Hey, what did you find there?" Mavis inquired, seeing that I had taken on a different countenance after dropping my phone. I picked it up again, turned to the message, and pointed it to his face."Matilda so much trust in me to make you happy, doesn't she? The other time, she believed I could fix your broken shop, and now, your birthday. What does that suggest?" He asked giving me a smirk. "Nothing," I quickly said knowing where he was heading. He arrived at work and I waited for him in the car to address a group of people briefly before he returned to the car."You said 15 minutes," I reminded him when he

ISABEL I woke up to the boys singing a birthday song and flying balloons in my room. Mavis stood by the door playing a violin. And soon after, Bennett, Jane, and Amelia entered my room and joined in the singing. I wiped away a tear underneath my eyes. I was so touched by their gesture. "That's the sweetest thing anyone's ever done for me. You guys really know how to make a girl feel special." I looked around the room, taking in the happy faces of my family and friends. I felt so lucky to have such a wonderful group of people in my life. I couldn't imagine what it would be like without them. "Now let's get this party started!" Jessie exclaimed, clapping his hands together. "I have a better plan for today, let's not be in a hurry." Mavis' brief response enlivened me and brought smiles to my face. "Before we disperse and get ready for the main party, let's share a bottle of red wine." He finished and gestured to Jessie. As the boys looked at each other, I could see the excitement

NARRATION Isabel and Jane stepped through the door, their arms full of shopping bags. They had spent hours exploring the shops and browsing the racks, looking for the perfect outfits. They had been so absorbed in their shopping that they had completely lost track of time. It wasn't until they got home that they realized that everyone else had already left for the party.Isabel's heart sank as she realized that they had missed the start of the party. She looked at Jane, who was equally confused. They both stood there in silence, thinking of what to do first. Isabel turned to Jane. She tried to make her voice steady despite the turmoil she was feeling inside. "Why don't you go and change into your new dress?" She suggested. "I'll meet you outside."Isabel immediately put on her beautiful dress and stood before the mirror, admiring her reflection. The dress she wore was exquisite, elegant, and beautiful. It was the perfect choice for the party Mavis had picked it out, especially for her

NARRATIONWith a collected composure, Estelle made her way to the table where the guys were drinking. She was determined to achieve her goal, and nothing was going to stand in her way.When Estelle reached the table, she was shocked by what she saw. Mavis was engaged in a physical altercation with Jason, and it looked like the later was getting the worst of it. His face was bruised and bloodied, and Estelle could see that he was in pain."What's going on?" she asked, taking Mavis'hand. "Mavis, what happened?"Mavis turned to her, his eyes filled with rage. "He insulted Isabel," he said in a low but dangerous voice. "I won't stand for it."Jason, his face bruised and bleeding, looked up at Estelle. "He's lying," he said, his voice weak and pained. "I would never say anything to hurt Isabel."Estelle looked back and forth between the two men, trying to make sense of the situation. Something didn't feel right. Mavis seemed too quick to anger, and Jason too quick to defend himself. She nee