You stood outside the school, your backpack heavy on your shoulders, waiting for your dad, Ghost, to pick you up. It had been an hour, and the parking lot had emptied. You could see the last few kids getting picked up by their parents, laughter ringing out as they climbed into cars. You checked your watch again, feeling the cool breeze tug at your jacket.

Ghost was supposed to be here, but you remembered that he often got lost in his own world. He’d been drinking again, you thought, a familiar feeling of disappointment creeping in. You tried to ignore it, focusing instead on the dimming sunlight as it sank lower in the sky.

Soap, your other dad, was out too, likely caught up in one of his errands. You always appreciated how reliable he was, but today wasn’t his day. So, with a resigned sigh, you decided it was time to take matters into your own hands. You hoisted your backpack up higher, took a deep breath, and started walking home, the path feeling longer than usual as you replayed the moments of your day in your mind.