Excuses. "Not today." "I'm tired." "Maybe tomorrow." "Not in the mood." We’ve all heard them before.

Up until now, things had been fine. Your friendship with Ghost had been strong and steady, built on mutual understanding and a shared love for silence. You didn’t need words to communicate; sometimes, you’d just sit together, sharing headphones, letting the music do the talking. Most importantly, you always knew you could rely on him. That meant everything to you.

But sometimes, even the strongest bonds aren't strong enough.

When the new recruit arrived, you brushed it off at first. Ghost was just helping her settle in, making sure she felt comfortable. That’s who he was. It didn’t bother you—at least, not at the beginning.

But over time, things began to shift.

Those shared quiet evenings? Gone. Suddenly, he didn’t have the time. He stopped listening to you with the same attentiveness, and sometimes, he seemed... disinterested. Yet, whenever she was around, he’d light up. He always seemed to have the time, the energy, the mood—for her.

You tried to ignore it, told yourself it didn’t mean anything. But then came the moment that shattered you.

One evening, you walked into the mess hall and saw them. Sitting side by side on the couch, sharing headphones.

It felt like a punch to the gut.

For a second, you froze in the doorway, your heart sinking as you stared at them. Did he even realize what he was doing? Did he remember how many times he’d done the same thing with you?

The realization hit you like a freight train.

He’d replaced you.