prologue

[OCTOBER 30, 2022 — 2:47 P.M.]

Lori set a cake pan on the kitchen counter, pulling off her oven mittens in relief. She stared ahead towards the clock in the dining room. The hands ticked over each digit; it took her too long to realize that she wasn't even paying attention to the time.

The front door opened carefully, taking her attention away from the clock and the cake in front of her. Lori walked out of the kitchen, slowly making her way to the door to greet—

"You good?" she asked on a moment's notice, taking in the appearance of her friend.

"Yeah," Priya said, waving Lori off dismissively. "Just the neighbor's dog acting like a bitch."

"Again?" Lori snickered.

"I swear!" Priya insisted. "It's like he has a thing against me! I love dogs! There's no way—"

"Maybe Snickers just hates people."

"Well, Snickerdoodle Mcdonavinson," Priya grumbled, using the dog's full name, "better watch his fucking tone. I'll stop buying him those premium treats from the local pet shop."

"He won't starve, bro. He has owners."

"The owners in question are a couple that look like they arise from graves. One jumpscare from a horror movie and they're gone."

"Sure," Lori placated, pointing towards the kitchen. "I made cake. Want some?"

"I want the whole thing."

"You can have some."

Priya accepted the offer, deciding that some cake was better than no cake.

***

"How was therapy?" Lori asked, cutting herself another slice of the chocolate cake she baked.

"Bruh, don't even get me started..." Priya sighed, reaching for a napkin as she recalled, "It was good for the most part. Halfway through, my parents called."

"What? Why?"

"They saw my car outside my therapist's office. They wanted me back home."

Lori stopped cutting her slice, staring at Priya in disbelief. Priya stared back in dismay.

"Did you tell them you were fine?" Lori asked her friend.

"I did! I told them that I was completely alright living out of town! It's not like I'm going to—"

Priya stopped herself. Lori put the dirtied knife down, settling back into her chair. She knew exactly what Priya was about to say.

It's not like I'm going to disappear again.

"I think I'm full," Lori whispered, getting up and putting the leftover cake in tupperware she set aside.

Priya didn't stop her. It was hard to finish the slice on her plate. Taking measly bites out of her slice already felt like a hard task.

"You think she would've liked chocolate?" Lori asked in a quiet voice. "I was going to make red velvet, but I wasn't sure."

"I know she doesn't like vanilla," Priya said, poking at her half-eaten slice. "She likes chocolate, so I'm sure it's fine."

Lori nodded.

"We can do red velvet next year," Priya offered. "I'll make it."

"It's okay," Lori dismissed. "I can make it. I like doing this."

"Then I'll help."

"Alright."

Priya looked at her half-eaten slice of cake before getting up. Lori watched her go to the front door, putting on her shoes and walking out. She barely heard the muttered excuse of going to checking the mail.

Lori sighed, turning back to the task of storing the leftover cake in the tupperware. She thought the chocolate cake tasted good, wondering how anyone else would perceive it. Baking became a coping mechanism since the day she escaped; she'd like to think that her baking skills improved over the years.

It had been a little over three years since the kidnapping.

A little over three years...

...and this was the third birthday they celebrated without Nishi.