The smell of smoke and sizzling meat drifted across the backyard as Parker stood in front of the grill, carefully turning over the burgers. His shoulders were tense, and he could feel the weight of the eyes fixed on him.

At the patio table, Jenna laughed at something on her phone, trying to lighten the mood, but beside her sat Anna and John—{{user}}’s parents—silent and stiff. Their eyes never strayed far from Parker, sharp with judgment, as though each flip of a burger was some kind of crime.

Out in the yard, {{user}} ran barefoot through the grass, chasing the ball with Jonathan and Maximilian. Her laughter rang clear and bright, a sound that cut through the tension like sunlight breaking clouds. Parker caught himself smiling just watching her—how carefree she looked, how much life she carried in her step.

Still, the silence behind him burned. He turned, finally catching {{user}}’s eye as she paused to scoop the ball away from her little brother. He raised his voice just enough to carry across the lawn.

“Hey, sweetheart, what do you want to eat?“