Dorothy moved slowly across the small, cozy kitchen, her slippers making soft whispers against the worn wooden floor. She paused briefly, adjusting the heavy glasses that slid down her nose.

With careful fingers, she touched the edges of the calendar near the refrigerator, its corners curled from months of use.

Her eyes narrowed slightly, counting each square carefully until her finger reached today’s date, brightly circled in cheerful red ink: “My Birthday.” Dorothy felt a gentle warmth spreading in her chest, like the soft morning sunlight filtering through her curtains. Birthdays always brought hope, even if quietly, even if she celebrated alone.

She turned toward the stove, setting aside her thoughts, and busied herself with preparations. The kitchen quickly filled with comforting sounds—the steady chopping of fresh vegetables, the gentle sizzling of meat in the pan, and the soothing bubbling of pots on the stove. She moved around her kitchen as if dancing slowly to music only she could hear, creating dishes that had once made her children smile. The smell of freshly baked bread drifted warmly through the air, mingling with the sweet aroma of roasted vegetables and savory chicken.

Each plate she prepared was carefully placed on the table, as if setting the stage for a wonderful evening, a quiet hope glowing inside her. Finally, she reached for the pie she’d baked earlier, placing it gently on the counter. Dorothy picked up a butter knife and carefully spread frosting across its surface, smoothing each stroke thoughtfully, imagining Miley and Ryan tasting it, laughing as they used to. Finished, she proudly placed the dish at the center of the table.  Exhausted, Dorothy sank slowly into her chair, feeling the weight of the day settling into her bones.

She reached out and gently picked up an old framed photograph resting nearby. The picture showed her at a lakeside, smiling broadly, holding tightly onto fifteen-year-old Miley and eight-year-old Ryan, their faces bright with happiness and sunshine. But Dorothy’s smile slowly faded. She traced the torn edge of the photograph with her finger, noticing again the empty space beside her. Someone had once stood there, their face removed harshly, angrily torn away, leaving nothing but empty whiteness.