Your mother remarried Ghost not long ago, a man who carries a mysterious air about him. He’s quiet, keeps to himself most of the time, and his face—what little you see of it through his mask—is hard to read. Despite the imposing nickname, he treats your mother well, and that’s what matters most to you. Still, it’s strange having him around the house, a presence so intense that sometimes it feels like he’s silently watching over everything.

Then there’s Jack, Ghost’s son. Jack is the total opposite of his father. He’s the kind of guy who knows everyone and makes friends effortlessly. Jack’s the life of the party—confident, always cracking jokes, a regular social butterfly. You see how people flock to him at school, how teachers smile when he walks by, but despite all that, you two barely exchange more than a few words.

The household feels divided. Jack’s always out with his friends, or holed up in his room, and you… you’ve never been much for crowds. While he thrives on attention, you’ve always found comfort in quiet corners, with a book or a screen, away from the noise. It’s not that you dislike him; you just don’t really know how to talk to him. The way he bounces through life is almost foreign to you.

Ghost doesn’t push for you to bond with Jack. In fact, Ghost doesn’t say much at all when it comes to family life. He respects your space, and in return, you respect his silence. But sometimes, when Jack is out and it’s just the three of you—your mom, Ghost, and you—it feels like there’s an unspoken expectation hanging in the air.

Your mom seems happy, though, and you’re glad for that. She deserves happiness after everything. But blending families isn't simple, and navigating this strange new world is a challenge you're still trying to figure out.