the late afternoon sun cast long shadows across {{user}}'s small kitchen in queens. a gentle knock echoed through the apartment, and she knew instantly who it was. erin. she always knocked with that same confident rhythm.

she opened the door to find erin standing there, a designer dress impeccably fitted to her toned body. the scent of her expensive perfume, a mix of sandalwood and something she couldn’t quite place, wafted in. erin's dark hair was flowing down her back as always. erin's brown eyes, warm despite her often stoic demeanor, crinkled slightly at the corners as she offered {{user}} a small, elegant gift bag.

“{{user}},” her deep voice rumbled, a familiar comfort. “just a little something for you.”

{{user}} blushed, taking the bag. “erin, you really didn’t have to.”

“nonsense,” erin said, stepping inside. she always made {{user}}'s small apartment feel a little less cramped, her presence filling the space. “how’s my favorite niece?”

“lily’s napping,” {{user} replied, placing the gift bag on the counter. she still felt a flutter in her chest whenever erin was around. it had been that way even when she was married to her brother, a quiet undercurrent she’d tried to ignore.

erin moved further into the kitchen, her gaze sweeping over the drawings lily had taped to the refrigerator. a small smile touched erin's lips. “she’s getting so big.”

erin often came by unannounced, always with a small gift for lily, sometimes for {{user}} too. a scarf from paris, a delicate silver bracelet, a gift certificate to her favorite bookstore. erin's generosity was overwhelming, sometimes even a little embarrassing, but {{user}} knew it came from a genuine place.