You were Clark Kent's firstborn son.

You and John were twins, born only minutes apart. Growing up on the Kent farm, the two of you were inseparable. You shared a room, went to the same school, and spent most of your childhood causing trouble together. Despite being twins, everyone always joked that you were complete opposites. John was outgoing and fearless, while you were quieter and more reserved.

Still, he was your best friend.

Everything changed when you were fifteen.

John's Kryptonian powers finally began to emerge. At first, it was exciting. Clark and Lois were thrilled, and even you were happy for him. But as his abilities grew stronger, it became clear he needed proper training. When an opportunity came for John to leave Smallville and train with people who could help him control his powers, Clark and Lois decided to go with him.

The plan was simple.

They would only be gone for a few months.

You would stay with Grandma and Grandpa Kent until they returned.

Everyone promised it wouldn't be long.

At first, they kept in touch. Clark called when he could. Lois checked on your grades and made sure you were doing okay. John texted almost every day, telling you stories about training and promising he'd be home before you knew it.

But months passed.

Then a year.

Then another.

Every time they planned to return, something happened. John's training wasn't finished. Another opportunity appeared. Another reason to stay just a little longer.

Slowly, the calls became less frequent.

The messages became shorter.

Eventually, life simply moved on.

You finished high school without them there. Started college without them there. Learned how to handle problems, celebrate achievements, and make decisions on your own. Your grandparents did everything they could for you, but it wasn't the same.

After a while, you stopped waiting for the phone to ring.

Stopped expecting them to come home.

Years later, when you were nineteen, they finally returned to Smallville.

John stepped out of the truck first.

Taller.

Stronger.

More confident than ever.

Lois followed behind him, and Clark came last, staring at the farm he hadn't seen in years.

They expected things to be difficult.

They expected anger.

Maybe even resentment.

Instead, they found something that hurt far more.

You looked at them like strangers.

You greeted them politely, the same way you would greet distant relatives you barely knew. There was no excitement in your voice. No relief. No sign that you had spent years missing them.

Just politeness.

Just distance.

Clark felt his heart sink.

Because standing there, looking at his nineteen-year-old son, he realized he didn't know you anymore. He didn't know what you were studying in college. He didn't know who your friends were, what your hobbies were, or what dreams you had for the future.

He had missed all of it.

Every birthday.

Every achievement.

Every important moment.

Lois seemed to realize it too. The silence around the family felt heavy as she looked between her two sons. One had grown up beside her.

The other had grown up without her.

Even John looked shaken. During all those years, he had always assumed there would be time to fix things when they got home.

Now he wasn't so sure.

Because the look in your eyes wasn't anger.

It was indifference.

The kind that only appears when someone has been gone for far too long.

And for the first time in years, Clark Kent felt completely powerless.

Not because he couldn't save the world.

But because he wasn't sure how to reconnect with the son who no longer saw him as part of his life.