When Sack returned, the first thing I noticed was his tired but relieved expression. I quickly got up from the bed where I had been waiting for him and approached with a smile.
"Is everything okay?" I asked, looking at him with concern.
He nodded, letting himself fall into a nearby chair as he took off his shoes.
"Yes, everything's under control. I had a few setbacks, but it's all resolved now. The cake is here, though not without drama."
I smiled, feeling a mix of tenderness and amusement.
"I knew I could trust you. What kind of setbacks?"
Sack sighed, rubbing his temples.
"I got a flat tire on the way back. Olivia had to send her driver with a spare. It was a day full of surprises, but here we are."
I took his hands and kissed his cheek.
"Thank you for everything, Sack. You really made this day special from the start."
We stayed like that for a few seconds before Charlotte burst into the room with excitement.
"Breakfast time! Everyone's waiting downstairs."
We went down together to the dining room, where the atmosphere was already lively. Olivia, Emma, Sarah, Matthew, Ellie, and Charlotte were gathered around the table. The band hired for the party was practicing in the background, adding a relaxing musical touch to the ambiance.
"Happy birthday, Lindsay!" they all exclaimed in unison when we entered.
Emma, Olivia's older sister, stood up and raised her coffee cup as if it were a champagne glass.
"To Lindsay, our future amazing doctor. May this year be as incredible as she is."
Everyone applauded, and I couldn't help but blush.
"Thank you, guys. This is much more than I expected."
Sarah, always elegant, chimed in with a serene smile.
"It's your special day, Lindsay. We'll make sure it's unforgettable."
Matthew, who was the perfect blend of Emma's charisma and Sarah's sophistication, added:
"Besides, Olivia has had us working on this for weeks. We couldn't disappoint her even if we wanted to."
Olivia made a dramatic gesture with her hand.
"Oh, please, Matthew. You know you enjoy planning extravagant things as much as I do."
We all laughed, and breakfast continued with light conversations and family jokes. It was impossible not to feel surrounded by love and support.
After breakfast, Olivia pulled me aside with a mischievous smile.
"It's time for you to get ready, dear. I hired a professional to do your makeup. I want you to look absolutely stunning tonight."
I laughed, though I knew resisting Olivia was useless.
"I didn't need all that, but thank you."
"Nonsense," she replied, winking at me. "It's your birthday, and I want you to feel like a princess."
We spent several hours getting ready. While the makeup artist worked on me, Olivia supervised every detail, from my hairstyle to the dress she had specially chosen for the occasion. When they finally finished, I barely recognized the person staring back at me in the mirror.
"You look stunning," Olivia said, crossing her arms with pride. "Literally, you look ready for a magazine cover."
I smiled at her, genuinely happy.
"Thank you, Olivia. Truly, you've made this day magical."
She pretended to be indignant.
"Of course I did. I'm great at organizing important things. Now come on, everyone's waiting outside."
The party began just after sunset. The trees were decorated with warm lights that softly glowed against the dark sky. The elegant tables were strategically arranged around the garden, and in the center stood the majestic five-tier cake that Sack had brought.
The band played soft melodies while the guests chatted animatedly. Among them were Daniel and Charlotte, who had arrived shortly after the party began. They both came hand in hand, looking as happy as ever.
"Lindsay!" Charlotte exclaimed, running over to hug me. "Happy birthday! I hope you like what we've prepared."
Daniel also approached, smiling kindly.
"Yes, happy birthday. This place is incredible. Olivia really knows how to organize events."
Olivia, who overheard the comment, responded with an exaggerated bow.
"Thank you, Daniel. Well-deserved recognition, as always."
The conversations flowed naturally. We talked about our experiences at Stanford, our future plans, and eventually about Sack's and my engagement.
"So… do you already have a date for the wedding?" Emma asked, curious.
Sack and I exchanged a glance before answering.
"Not yet," I said, smiling. "But it will definitely be something intimate. Nothing too ostentatious."
Olivia scoffed.
"Intimate, she says. As if that's possible with me involved."
Everyone laughed, including Sack and me.
The night progressed with a mix of laughter, music, and lively conversations. The band kept playing soft melodies that floated in the air while the guests enjoyed gourmet food served on long tables decorated with fresh flowers and warm candles. But then came the moment everyone had been waiting for: the gift-giving.
Olivia, always at the forefront of any important event, took the floor with her usual enthusiasm. She stood in the center of the garden, grabbing everyone's attention with a theatrical clap.
"Attention, ladies and gentlemen!" she announced, raising a champagne glass. "The most exciting moment of the night has arrived: gifts for our favorite birthday girl! Lindsay, get ready because this is going to be epic."
Everyone laughed at her dramatic flair, but no one could deny that Olivia knew how to build anticipation. I sat in a chair specially placed for the occasion, surrounded by my friends and family, while Sack stayed by my side, smiling amusedly.
The first gift, as expected, came from Olivia. She approached with a box wrapped in shiny gold paper, decorated with a silver bow that looked like it came straight out of a design magazine.
"Before you open this, I want to say something," Olivia began, placing a hand over her heart with feigned solemnity. "This gift represents everything we've lived through together this past year. It's a tribute to our friendship, our adventures, and, of course, your incredible talent for saving lives… or at least trying to."
I raised an eyebrow, pretending to be offended.
"Trying? Thanks for your confidence, Olivia."
She winked at me before continuing.
"Open it. You don't want to miss a second of this masterpiece."
Inside the box was a beautifully bound scrapbook. On the cover, elegantly engraved letters read: "Lindsay, Sack, and Olivia: An Unforgettable Year at Stanford." I opened it curiously, and each page was filled with photos, notes, and clippings of shared moments: from our first classes on campus to endless nights studying together, to our experiences at Sapphire Grove Hospital.
One of the pages had a picture of Sack, Olivia, and me, with focused expressions. Below it, Olivia had written: "Future amazing doctors (and maybe future millionaires if they can patent their crazy ideas)."
I couldn't help but laugh as I flipped through the rest of the album. There was even a section dedicated to our most ridiculous moments, like the time Olivia accidentally spilled coffee on an anatomy book during a surprise exam.
"Olivia, this is incredible," I said, feeling a lump in my throat. "You've truly captured everything this year has meant to me."
She made a casual gesture, though her eyes sparkled with pride.
"I just wanted to make sure you never forget how special you are. Besides, someday you can show this to your grandchildren and brag about how cool you were in college."
Everyone applauded, and Sack squeezed my hand affectionately.
Next, it was Charlotte's turn, Ellie's younger sister. The little girl approached shyly, holding a cardboard tube containing her gift. Though it was obvious she was nervous, her smile lit up the entire scene.
"Happy birthday, Lindsay," she said, handing me the tube. "I made this for you. I hope you like it."
I carefully unrolled the paper inside the tube and discovered a beautiful drawing. It was an artistic representation of Sack and me walking under a starry sky, with Stanford's campus in the background. The level of detail was impressive, especially considering Charlotte's age.
"Charlotte, this is absolutely beautiful," I exclaimed, admiring every stroke. "How did you learn to draw like this?"
She shrugged, visibly proud but trying to downplay it.
"Ellie taught me some tricks. I wanted to make something that would make you feel happy every time you saw it."
Sack chimed in, leaning toward Charlotte.
"Well, you've definitely succeeded. This drawing belongs in a museum."
Charlotte beamed, and everyone applauded again.
Ellie was next to approach. She carried a small box wrapped in light blue paper, adorned with a white bow. Her expression was calm but charged with emotion.
"This gift isn't anything extravagant," Ellie explained, handing me the box. "But I think it holds a lot of meaning."
Inside, I found a delicate bracelet with a small heart-shaped pendant. Engraved in tiny letters inside the pendant were the words: "True Friendship."
"I wanted to give you something that symbolizes our relationship," Ellie continued, her voice soft but firm. "Something you can always carry with you, reminding you that you can count on me for anything."
My eyes filled with tears as I looked at the pendant.
"It's perfect, Ellie. Thank you so much."
We hugged sincerely, and Sack gave her an approving look.
The gifts kept coming one after another. Margaret, Ellie's mother, gave me a hand-embroidered handkerchief with floral motifs, saying she hoped it would bring me good luck in my upcoming exams. Emma, Olivia's older sister, gave me an exclusive perfume that, according to her, "captured the essence of a future successful doctor." Sarah, the second sister, opted for something more practical: a set of luxury pens engraved with my name.
Even Matthew, Olivia's brother, joined the celebration with an unexpected gift: a book titled Inspirational Medical Stories , signed by several famous doctors.
"I thought it might interest you," Matthew said with a shy smile. "After all, someday you'll be writing your own story here."
When the gift-giving ended, Sack stood up and took my hand. Everyone fell silent, expectant.
"I think everyone has said beautiful things tonight," Sack began, looking directly into my eyes. "But I want to take this moment to say something more. Lindsay, this year has been incredible not only for everything we've accomplished together but also for everything we've learned from each other. Your strength, your intelligence, and your kindness inspire me every day."
He paused, searching for something in his pocket. He pulled out a small black box and opened it, revealing a simple but elegant ring.
"We're already engaged, but I wanted to give you this as a reminder of how much you mean to me. No matter what the future holds, we'll always face it together."
Tears streamed down my face as I accepted the ring. The applause and cheers of the guests echoed in the air, and Olivia shouted:
"I knew it! I knew you'd do something romantic!"
The scene ended with hugs, laughter, and more toasts, making it clear that this was a birthday I would never forget.
The night continued with games and activities organized by Olivia. There was an impromptu karaoke competition, in which even Sack participated by singing a romantic song that made everyone laugh.
Finally, the culminating moment of the night arrived: the dance on the floating platform. Sack and I stepped onto it together as the band began playing an instrumental version of A Thousand Years by Christina Perri.
Heart beats fast / Colors and promises / How to be brave? / How can I love when I'm afraid to fall?
Sack took my hand and pulled me close, wrapping me in a warm embrace.
"Thank you for making this day so special," he whispered in my ear.
I rested my head on his chest, listening to his heartbeat in rhythm with the music.
Time stands still / Beauty in all she is / I will be brave / I will not let anything take away what's standing in front of me.
As we danced under the stars, I felt that this was just the beginning of many adventures together. And although I knew there would be challenges ahead, I also knew that, with Sack by my side, I could face anything.