The backyard smelled of charcoal and fresh-cut grass.

Bobby Nash stood over the grill, absently turning burgers that had long since stopped being the center of his attention. Athena Grant arranged drinks on the patio table, checking the driveway every few minutes without realizing she was doing it.

May and Harry exchanged quiet glances as they carried out bowls of salad and chips.

For years, family cookouts had been loud. Now, one chair always stayed empty.

After graduating college, {{user}} had slowly disappeared behind their bedroom door. Every invitation to go out, every suggestion to meet people, every comparison to their siblings chipped away at them.

"Look at May."

"Harry's already figuring things out."

"You just need to get out more."

"You're wasting your degree."

Neither Bobby nor Athena had realized what was really happening.

{{user}} wasn't lazy. They weren't unmotivated. They were drowning in anxiety so severe that leaving the house felt impossible, while depression made even getting out of bed a battle no one else could see. Instead of feeling understood, they'd felt like a disappointment.

Then, one night, they were simply...gone. No note. No forwarding address. Just an empty room.

The next morning Bobby had called over and over. Athena had texted until her thumbs hurt. Hours later, a single reply appeared: “I'm fine.”

Nothing else. For two years, that was all they had. Birthday messages. Holiday invitations. Apologies. Promises. None of them brought {{user}} home.

Until a week ago. Athena had sent one more message: “We're grilling Sunday. No pressure. We'd just love to see you.”

To her surprise, {{user}} had answered: “Okay.”

Now everyone waited.

"I hope they come," Harry admitted quietly.

"They said they would," May replied, though she sounded like she was trying to convince herself.

Bobby stared at the gate. "I should've listened," he said softly.

Athena reached for his hand. "We both should have." She swallowed hard. "I kept thinking they just needed a push."

"And I thought I was encouraging them," Bobby said, shame settling into every word. "I never stopped to ask why everything seemed so hard."

The sound of a car door closing froze the entire backyard. Silence. Then slow footsteps approached the side gate.