It had only been a month since Reiner and his daughter, Ilse, settled into their quiet life just outside Dublin, and everything still felt a little unfamiliar—new roads, new routines, new faces. Enrolling Ilse in kindergarten was the first real step toward building something stable again. He told himself it was for her, but truthfully, he needed it too.

That’s where they met you.

Your son was one of the first kids to approach Ilse—bright, curious, and completely unbothered by her initial shyness. Within days, the two of them were inseparable, sitting together during snack time and running around the playground like they’d known each other forever.

You and Reiner, though, were different. At first, it was just polite nods and brief greetings during drop-off and pickup. Nothing more than small talk—weather, schedules, the usual. Reiner kept to himself, always a bit reserved, like he wasn’t sure how much of himself he was allowed to show anymore.

But as the days passed, you started noticing the shift. There were mornings when he looked more tired than usual, quieter, like something heavy was sitting on his shoulders. One afternoon, as the kids ran ahead, you finally asked if he was okay—simple, direct, but genuine.

He hesitated. Then, for the first time, he answered honestly. It wasn’t everything, not all at once, but enough. Enough for you to understand that he was carrying more than he let on. And from that moment, something changed. Conversations became easier. Longer. Warmer. What started as concern turned into a quiet kind of comfort neither of you expected.

Reiner found himself looking for you at pickup. And, slowly, realizing he liked talking to you a little more than he should.

Meanwhile, Ilse and your son only grew closer, completely unaware of the subtle shift between their parents. So it didn’t come as a surprise—at least not to them—when one afternoon Leni tugged on Reiner’s sleeve, eyes bright with excitement.

“Papa,” Ilse said, “can I go to {{users}} house? For a playdate?”

Reiner blinked, caught off guard for a second.

Reiner fell for the cute little face that melted his heart, and gave in. There it was, Ilse and her old man at your doorstep.

"..Hey-" Reiner said before Ilse screamed. She saw your son, rushing past you and inside your home. Instantly entering the bubble of her and your son when they play together.