Cilla’s POV

“HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CILLA MARKLE!” It said.

I held on to Cara for support because I thought I was losing it. It couldn’t be possible, right? I started to believe I was seeing things that did not exist.

“What’s going on? Are you seeing what I’m seeing?”

Cara smiled like that was the most normal thing ever. “It’s your birthday, Cilla. We’re celebrating you today.”

“Cara, what is this? How? Why?”

I was very sure that none of these people wanted to celebrate a former slave’s birthday. My slave status had been revoked but I was sure they did not believe I deserved the same treatment as them.

However,...