Message to Myself

A few days before, far away from the harsh splendor of Ravenheart, Sunny was looking at Cassie while hiding his emotions behind a polite smile. 

"Oh, and by the way…"

Her tone was neutral. 

"...Happy Birthday."

For a split second, his mask cracked. 

Sunny's face did not move, but his gaze changed. For a short moment, his eyes were much deeper and darker than before — the lightless depth contained within them was much too vast, much too cold, and much too unfathomable to fit the image of a harmless shopkeeper. 

He froze, a storm of emotions raging in his heart. For a second, Sunny was stunned, not knowing what to say. 

The shadows stirred.

But then, he quickly composed himself. 

"Why, thank you. But how did you know?"