Chapter 7

Dashiell clutched the urn tightly as he returned home.

Opening the door, his eyes immediately fell on the birthday cake sitting on the coffee table in the living room.

He stumbled closer, noticing two little figurines on the cake with their heads touching. The frosting on the girl's face had started to melt, making it look as if she was crying.

Dashiell scooped a bit of frosting into his mouth, the bitterness spreading across his tongue.

He devoured the cake in large bites before remembering to open the gift box beside it.

A divorce agreement stared back at him.

Though he had expected it, seeing it with his own eyes made his heart sink instantly.

He took out the agreement and examined it carefully, noticing the signature at the bottom was slightly blurred.

It looked as if it had been smudged by tears and then dried.

Dashiell's heart ached as he imagined her sitting alone by the window, tears falling as she signed her name with pain and hesitation.