eyes widen at the blue-and-white snowflake cake made every sacrifice feel like a bargain.
There were balloons, glittery crowns, and party bags filled with small treasures, but to Norah, it was pure magic. Every few minutes, she would scurry over to me, tug at my sleeve, and whisper with breathless wonder, “Mummy, is this really my party?” And every single time, I would kneel down, smooth her hair, and answer with a smile that reached my heart, “Yes, sweetheart. It’s all yours. Every bit of it.”
Then, the atmosphere shifted
