Kimberly
The soft hum of the string quartet faded into the background as I stood frozen at the base of the grand staircase.
My heart pounded in my chest, each beat echoing the whirlwind of emotions swirling within me. The room, adorned with cascading floral arrangements and golden chandeliers, seemed to blur as my gaze locked onto the two figures entering the ballroom.
My parents.
They looked older than I remembered. Time had etched lines into their faces, and their eyes held a mixture of hope, regret, and something else I couldn’t quite place.
My mother’s hands trembled as she clutched a small, wrapped box, while my father’s usually stoic demeanor was softened by the sheen of unshed tears.
Kendrick stood beside me, his hand gently resting on the small of my back, offering silent
