Chapter 66: Eternal Silence

Christy had always loved receiving gifts. The allure of a beautifully wrapped package filled her with the same giddy excitement she felt as a child. She had one now, a gift from Darren, and every fiber of her being wanted to tear it open. But she resisted, remembering the promise she had made. Yet, thinking about that promise brought a wave of despondency over her. *Would happiness ever find its way into her life?* she wondered. *Did this mean she'd never get to open this gift?* Her frustration swirled into a mix of emotions, and she thought, *Maybe I should renegotiate the terms of this promise.* With a sigh, she placed the gift into a cabinet in her room. This time, the gift didn’t feel like just an object wrapped in paper. It felt like it held something much more—a wish for her happiness. The thought was odd, yet her heart clung to it, wanting to believe it. Exhausted by her thoughts, Christy fell onto her bed, planning to sleep away the day. Her mind drifted back to the clue Darr