When she opened her eyes, she blew out the candles and cut the cake.
That night, laughter filled the apartment. They talked loudly, teased one another, and celebrated until the air felt warm and alive.
Dorothy drank more than usual. Her cheeks flushed pink, and her laughter grew louder.
At one point, she wrapped her arms tightly around Aurora. "You're the best," she murmured earnestly. "I'm not letting you go."
Aurora patted her head gently. "It's nothing."
Dorothy shook her head stubbornly. "No. If you can't be my best friend, then you should have been my sister."
Aurora chuckled softly. "We are friends."
Dorothy looked at her and smiled, eyes shining.
"Yes, we are. If I hadn't become friends with you, I wouldn't have taught you so much. That was the best decision of my life."
She paused, a mischievous glint in her gaze. "After all, I taught you how to fake everything."
