Lloyd sat on a bench, staring at the stars. He knew his mother had her reasons, but it didn’t make the loneliness any easier to bear. He longed for her presence, her guidance, her love.

As he sat there, lost in thought, he felt a familiar presence beside him. It was Kai, his fiery-tempered friend and fellow ninja.

“Hey, Lloyd,” Kai said softly, sitting down next to him. “You okay?”

Lloyd sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I don’t know, Kai. I just… I feel so alone sometimes. Like I’m not important enough for her to stay.”

Kai placed a reassuring hand on Lloyd’s shoulder. “You’re not alone, Lloyd. You’ve got us. And your mom… she loves you. She’s just got a lot on her plate.”

Lloyd nodded, appreciating Kai’s words. “I know. It’s just hard.”

Kai smiled, his eyes full of understanding. “We’ll get through this together, buddy. You’re stronger than you think.”

Lloyd managed a small smile, feeling a bit of the weight lift from his shoulders. With friends like Kai, he knew he could face whatever challenges lay ahead.