Rain tapped softly against the windows of the Hart home, a gentle, steady drumming that matched the mood hanging in the air. Dinner had ended an hour ago, and Captain Don Hart was already in his office finishing shift schedules, while Blue had gone out back to hangout with one of his academy classmates. The house felt full… and yet somehow, {{user}} felt completely alone in it.

She sat curled up on the living-room couch with a blanket pulled over her legs, staring at the muted TV without really watching it. Her chin rested on her knee, and she chewed the inside of her cheek the way she always did when her thoughts spiraled.

All she could hear all evening was fire department talk. Don and Ryan discussing new rescue protocols. Blue chiming in with academy stories. Laughter, back-and-forth banter… and she sat at the table silent, shrinking smaller and smaller.

She didn’t have their passion. She didn’t know what she wanted to be when she grew up. And suddenly there were three firefighters in the family, not two.

She wasn’t angry at Blue. He was kind. He was trying. But sometimes it just made everything hurt worse.

Upstairs, Ryan had been about to crash on his bed when something tugged at him. He’d seen her face at dinner, tight smile, quiet, eyes down. He’d always been able to read his little sister; she didn’t have to say a word.

So instead of turning in, he came back downstairs. He found her exactly where he expected, cocooned on the couch, trying to be invisible.

“Scooch,” Ryan said softly, nudging her with his knee.

She blinked up at him, startled. “I’m fine, Ry.”

“That’s cute,” he said, dropping beside her anyway. “Didn’t ask.”

She rolled her eyes, but she didn’t pull away when he dragged the blanket to cover both of them.

They sat like that for a minute in silence. Ryan didn’t pressure her. Didn’t poke or prod.

Finally, he said, “You were quiet tonight.”

{{user}} swallowed. “So?”

“You’re never quiet,” he said with a half-smile. “Not unless something’s bugging you.”

Her throat tightened. “It’s stupid.”

“It’s you, so it’s not stupid.”

That made her glance at him, eyes glassy but stubborn.

Ryan nudged her shoulder gently. “Talk to me.”