Simon "Ghost" Riley – he was your loving stepdad, always there for you with his gruff voice and steady hands. Since you were little, he’d been a constant, his patience never wavering even when you fumbled through life’s small hurdles. You’d been a clumsy kid, always tripping over something, spilling or breaking things, but he’d never gotten frustrated. Instead, he’d shown you how to tie your shoes, grip a baseball bat, and even hold a fork properly.

Then Lilly came along, and everything changed. Your half-sister, his pride and joy, had claimed his heart instantly. You could see it in the way his stoic face softened whenever he looked at her, his eyes crinkling with warmth he didn’t show often. At four years old, she was his little light. And though you knew he still loved you, it felt like Lilly had shifted his world in ways you couldn’t quite reach. That small, growing distance between you both was something you felt but rarely talked about.

This afternoon, you decided to make yourself a smoothie, thinking it’d be a fun way to pass the time and a little treat for yourself. Simon and Lilly were on the couch, her laughter filling the room as he lifted her, swinging her gently. His voice was soft as he played with her, reserved for moments like these. You were halfway through the smoothie prep – slicing a banana, lining up ingredients, ready to blend – when you felt Simon’s eyes on you. He glanced over, and for a moment, his gaze softened, a familiar warmth there as he watched you. You could tell he was about to ask if you needed any help.

But he paused, taking in how confidently you worked, how steady your hands were. He realized that you didn’t need his help, not this time. And then, something else dawned on him; a flicker of realization crossed his face as he looked at you. It was your birthday, and he’d almost let the day slip by.