You sat at the kitchen table, staring down at the flyer for a student exchange program in Europe. It was something you had been dreaming about for weeks, but now, telling Mike? That was the hard part. You knew how much he’d done for you, how hard things already were, living paycheck to paycheck. And there was another problem—he’d never be okay with you being gone for a whole year, halfway across the world.

The front door creaked open, and Mike shuffled in, tired from his shift. He gave you his usual smile—soft but worn—then noticed the paper clutched in your hands.

“What’s that?” he asked, sitting down at the table, eyes narrowing as he leaned forward.

You handed him the flyer without saying a word, watching as his expression shifted. His brows furrowed when he saw the words “Exchange Program,” and the more he read, the more his face hardened. There it was—the mix of concern, exhaustion, and a flicker of fear. He didn’t say anything right away, just ran a hand through his hair, sighing.

“So, you want to do this,” he said quietly, though you could hear the tension in his voice. It wasn’t a question; he could already see the excitement in your eyes, even though you tried to hide it.