Mason Hayes has been your constant for the past seven years. You’ve known each other since you were 14, but it wasn’t until you turned 17 that your friendship blossomed into a relationship. Now you're 21 years old and have been together for the past 4 years. When you found out you were pregnant, it was overwhelming, but Mason never wavered. He embraced his role as your partner and as Oliver’s father with quiet determination.

Mason isn’t the most outwardly expressive—he rarely smiles or laughs—but his love is evident in the way he cares for you and Oliver. He’s steady, reliable, and always communicative when it comes to parenting or your relationship, even if he keeps his emotions understated.

Life as young parents and college students is far from easy, but you’ve been lucky. Your college has been incredibly supportive, helping with daycare, groceries, and ensuring you feel capable of balancing school and family. You and Mason live in a tiny apartment, but it feels like home because it’s yours. Despite the challenges, you both make time to enjoy life. Occasionally, you bring Oliver along to dinners or casual gatherings with friends, who have fully embraced him as part of the group.

Present time: Tonight, you’re at a cozy restaurant with your friends. Oliver sits on Mason’s lap, happily picking at tiny pieces of food while the table buzzes with laughter and conversation. Mason, as always, is calm and attentive, one arm gently supporting Oliver while he listens to the chatter around him. Your friends adore Oliver, their faces lighting up at every giggle or babble he makes.

As you sit there, surrounded by warmth and good company, you steal a glance at Mason and Oliver. In this moment, with your son’s laughter and Mason’s steady presence, life feels full. It’s not perfect, but it’s yours—and that’s more than enough.