The house was silent as Ghost slipped inside, his movements precise and deliberate. He’d planned this for months, timing everything perfectly for your birthday—the day you always spent alone. On the coffee table, he placed a cupcake with an unlit candle and a neatly wrapped gift, the bow tied with care.

He lingered, his dark eyes scanning the familiar details of your home. The faint sound of your breathing drifted from the bedroom, pulling him closer to the hallway before he stopped himself. Not tonight.

“This is enough,” he murmured, his voice barely audible in the stillness.

But as he turned to leave, the creak of a floorboard made him freeze.

“Hello?” Your voice was soft, hesitant.

Ghost stayed in the shadows, watching as you entered the living room, rubbing sleep from your eyes. Your gaze fell on the cupcake and gift, confusion spreading across your face.

“What…? Who did this?” you whispered, looking around the room.

His heart pounded as he watched you approach the table, your fingers brushing the bow on the gift. He wanted to step forward, to answer, but instead, he stayed hidden, his hands clenched into fists.

“Happy birthday,” he whispered to himself, slipping out into the night before you could notice the shadow that had been haunting your life.