"But one honest apology can save it all," Lydia consoled Maddox after the latter finally decided to open up to his stepmom, narrating to her the incident of the day.

Earlier that day, after the birthday incident, Maddox ran home and as soon as he climbed into his room, he crumbled down in tears, sitting on the floor beside his bed. Upon hearing Lydia's voice amidst his tears, he realised that he forgot to close the door.

"Maddox?" Lydia called for the second time.

The teenager immediately dried up his tears with his hands before turning to face his stepmom who was standing at the room's entrance wearing a worried look on her face.

"Yes," he answered, clearing his throat.

"Why did you dry them?" Lydia asked as she noticed that his stepson was crying. "Let them flow, let them wash away the pain."

"I'm...I'm not crying," he muttered.

"Son, I don't know the reason behind it. I ignore what is the thing or who is the one behind those tears, but I know you were indeed crying. Tell me, what's the matter?" Lydia demanded in a highly concerned voice.

"No! I said I was not crying!" he nearly yelled. "Because...because boys don't cry," he added in a lower tone, trying to defend himself although the new droplets of tears rimming his eyes were proving the contrary.

"Who said so?" Lydia snapped. "Boys don't have hearts? Yes! They do! Are they immune to pain? No! They are not! So, why can't they cry?"

Maddox looked down, unable to hold his tears.

"Cry, son. Cry it out. Why torture the heart when the eyes want to relieve it?" Lydia whispered as she kneeled down by Maddox's side, placing her hand on his shoulder.

The young boy shivered as tears rolled down his cheeks. For a few minutes, he kept crying, stopping for some seconds, gasping for air.

"Now tell me what happened my dear? I'm here to listen to you. Share the pain my dear. Just let it out," Lydia coaxed.

"Aunt Lydia...Why do bitter memories keep coming back like waves, suffocating you, drowning you. Why does this happen to me all the time?" Maddox sobbed.

"Memories. Memories are our worst enemy. They never get defeated. They always come back, especially when we think we have moved on," Lydia sighed as she momentarily got lost in her own thoughts.

"Why can't I forget my dad's bitter words? Why can't I forget my mum's tears?" Maddox wept, pulling Lydia out of her thoughts.

"I don't want to give you false hopes. I don't want to say the typical words that time heals all wounds. Because I know, I know it doesn't always do so. To be honest, some memories never leave us. They do not even fade away. We just learn to live with them," the stepmom comforted her stepson.

"But what has happened exactly?" Lydia asked as she lifted her right hand to stop a tear which was rolling down Maddox's cheek.

"Today is my birthday."

"I know."

"Really? You knew?" Maddox yelped as his eyes widened.

"Why are you surprised? Of course, I know. We have been living together for around six years right?" Lydia smiled. "Okay. Go on."

Maddox went on explaining the events of the day to Lydia who listened attentively without interrupting him. In the slightest details, he narrated to her how he got hurt by Deborah's birthday surprise. After completing his narration, he was embarrassed as his stepmom kept staring at him without saying a word.

"I...I know it's my fault but she," Maddox could not complete his sentence as he was interrupted by Lydia.

"No son. No 'buts' when you are admitting your fault. Frankly speaking, yes, you are at fault. Your fault is that you never told your friend that you hate celebrating your birthdays. How would she know? For her, she was only trying to make you happy," Lydia explained. "See, I also knew it was your birthday, but why didn't I even wish you? Because I knew it would not make you happy, I knew it would hurt you. But how did I know? I knew because you told me that at a point in time. But did Deborah know about it?"

"No. I never told her," Maddox answered in a guilty voice. "Aunt Lydia, what do I do now? My behaviour must have hurt her a lot."

Lydia advised Maddox to apologise to the brunette and to explain to her the reason behind his reaction.

"And yeah, don't feel bad if she doesn't forgive you instantly. Give her time to get over the pain she felt. Work for that forgiveness. Remember that forgiveness should be earned," Lydia said, stressing on her words, as she stood up and walked out of Maddox's room, giving the latter the space he needed to reflect over the conversation they just had.