"You're an adult now. I'm distressed because men around you covet you. But what does it matter? I'll make you more attractive and show the world that you belong to me alone."
"This is your nineteenth birthday present." Damien took out the last gift box.Kendall opened it to find a new limited-edition lady's bag, the only one in Rosemont. "Someone told me it's the best bag this year, so I bought it. The best should go with the best."
"Nineteen years old, nineteen gifts. I participate in your past this way."
In Kendall's previous years, "birthday" was no different from Monday or Tuesday. Living in the slums, she had no right to celebrate. In the organization, she had no intention of celebrating, as birthdays were just another day without the completion of a task to bring her any relief.
Gradually, she buried her own birthday, along with the secret hope for birthday gifts she had when she was young and naive. She got used to this burial.
