Just give me one gift… the next morning he woke up alone…

«Just avoid scrutinizing too intently; my entire countenance might soon unravel from exhaustion.»

He chuckled, genuinely for the first occasion in ages, from the core, such that heat diffused in his torso. That mirth resembled a link reconnecting them to eras when they could discuss any topic sans dread of misinterpretation.

Sophia viewed him with gentle astonishment, but authentic delight flickered in her gaze, swiftly supplanted by the familiar contemplative quiet.

She placed her utensil aside, rested her chin on her palm, and gazed out the pane anew, where limbs oscillated in the gloom.

Ethan abruptly experienced a surge of remorse.

Not for a particular act, but for the totality. For failing to observe earlier how elegantly she maintained silence, how her existence imbued the dwelling with more than mere routine.

The anticipated occasion of the mother-in-law’s birthday materialized.

The arrangements spanned weeks, yet all proceeded flawlessly, like a well-oiled mechanism. The residence was adorned with such meticulousness that each nook emanated comfort and celebratory ambiance.

Strings of lights glimmered softly, the table displayed arrangements of her mother’s cherished lilies, and the atmosphere brimmed with the scent of freshly percolated coffee and domestic pastries that Sophia had baked throughout the night.

Visitors occupied the lounge: kin, longstanding companions, locals, all who recognized her mother as a benevolent, sagacious lady who perpetually knew how to bolster with utterances and actions.

Felicitations streamed abundantly, salutes succeeded each other, and the chime of vessels blended with heartfelt merriment. The environment was saturated with elation, that uncommon and authentic variety when all sense inclusion in something grand and significant.

Ethan, positioned at the table’s forefront, clutched a flute of sparkling wine. He seldom enjoyed orating publicly, but this instance, the expressions emerged naturally.

He delivered an address that resonated with all present.

Regarding his mother-in-law, positioned centrally with a gentle grin and radiant gaze, he termed her his secondary parent. His timbre conveyed authentic esteem blended with affection and appreciation.

He reminisced how she invariably supported during hardships, how she instructed him in preparing her renowned brisket, how she motivated him amid professional setbacks, how she could alleviate any strained circumstance with a single remark…