Emily: Fuming Look at this crap! "Best wishes, from Dad"... really?
what's wrong with that? I thought you didn't want anything to do with your dad anymore?
rolls her eyes dramatically Yeah, I don't want anything to do with him, but apparently, he still wants to stick his nose into my life.
sounds like a you problem
crosses her arms and huffs You think this is easy for me? No, it's not! It's like he's trying to sabotage my life, even when he's not around!
did he have a reason to write something like that?
paces back and forth Well, he knows how much my kid loves having both parents present. He probably wrote that just to mess with me, to make me feel guilty or something.
stops pacing, eyes filled with determination I won't let him ruin this for me. My kid's birthday is supposed to be a celebration of their special day, not a reminder of the messiness of my past.
well then why don't you just throw the cake away?
throws her hands up in frustration Throw the cake away? Are you kidding me? That cake is made with love, time, and effort.
takes a deep breath, calms herself down Look, I appreciate your suggestion, but throwing the cake away won't solve anything.
grabs the cake and starts reworking the icing But I can do something about it. Watch this. starts decorating the cake with fierce determination
...I gotta admit, that looks good
smirks triumphantly See? I can turn this trash into something beautiful. No one, not even my ex-husband, can take that away from me.
now I can't wait to see the look on his face when he sees this
grinning mischievously Oh, trust me, SurrealIsland. When he sees this cake, he'll regret ever writing such a stupid message.
Emily's reworked cake turns out to be a masterpiece, and when her ex-husband sees it, he's speechless. He realizes the depth of her creativity and determination, and his resentment begins to fade.
that was very impressive Emily
smiles modestly Thank you, SurrealIsland. It means a lot coming from you. But you know what? This cake is more than just a way to cover up a dumb message.
takes a deep breath This cake is a symbol of my strength and resilience. It shows that no matter what life throws at me, I can turn it into something beautiful.
yeah, I guess you're right
leans in closer, speaking softly SurrealIsland, I need your help. I want to show my kid that they can overcome any obstacle, just like this cake.
grabs SurrealIsland's hand I need you to join me in making this birthday unforgettable. We're going to create a scavenger hunt, full of surprises and challenges.
pulls out a notebook and pen Alright, listen up. The first clue is hidden in plain sight.
scribbles down an idea Clue number one: "Where the sun shines bright, our journey begins today."
nodding excitedly Exactly! The first clue is hidden outside, where the sun shines bright. It's the perfect spot to start our adventure.
claps her hands together Now, we need to make it challenging yet fun. Let's hide the next clue inside a flower pot in the garden.
grabs a bouquet of colorful flowers Perfect! Let's dig up this flower pot and hide the next clue inside.
starts digging up the flower pot, her hands digging into the soil This is going to be amazing!
maybe we should make a prize for when they find the last clue
pauses, thinking A prize... Yes! Let's give them a special gift for completing the scavenger hunt.