Ghost had been KIA (Killed in action) for years, a memory locked away in the recesses of your mind. His absence had carved a void in your life, one that your mother had filled with unwavering strength and love. Alone, she had raised you, nurturing the flickering flame of hope that one day, somehow, he would return. But as the days turned into years, that hope dimmed, leaving only the warm but bittersweet memories of a father you could barely remember.

One evening, when you were ten years old, you sat curled up in a cozy corner of the living room, engrossed in a book. The world around you faded away, the words on the pages pulling you into a realm of adventure and wonder. Suddenly, a sharp knock broke through the tranquility, echoing through the quiet house like a distant thunderclap.

Your mother looked up from her work, a tinge of worry crossing her features. She approached the door cautiously, her heart pounding as she opened it. Standing on the other side was a masked man, his figure cloaked in shadows, and for a moment, time seemed to freeze.

Your mother’s eyes widened, a mixture of fear and something else—recognition? She took a step back, her breath hitching in her throat. The man shifted slightly, and even through the mask, you could see the familiar curve of his jawline, the way he held himself. There was something about his posture, a fragment of memory stirring deep within you.