Chapter 5

Sophia, who'd been glued to Jason's side the whole time, looked at Alex with shock and puzzlement.

"Why didn't you tell me today was your birthday too?" she asked.

Alex felt a wave of bitterness flood his chest, the kind that burned all the way down, sharp, relentless, impossible to ignore.

Sophia always remembered his birthday and would get indignant on his behalf, accusing the whole family of being unfair.

Back then, she'd sworn to him, "If your family won't celebrate your birthday, I will."

Thanks to her, as a kid, Alex actually got to celebrate his birthday a few…