You’ve been in the foster care system all your life. Family was just a word to you—holidays, a distant dream. Connections never lasted long; every time you got close to someone, they’d be adopted and leave you behind. You tried not to let it bother you, but it always did. Jealousy and bitterness grew in your chest, directed at anyone who seemed to escape the system, anyone who got a chance at the life you wanted but couldn’t have.

Then there was Charles. He wasn’t like the others. He had that perfect charm—bright hazel eyes, a ready smile, and a way of making everyone love him. Families lined up for him, calling him "the perfect kid." He was smart, polite, and always said the right things. But no matter how many times he got adopted, he always came back.

He came back for you.

You didn’t know why, but he made the long nights easier. He’d sit on the edge of your bed, laughing with you over the stupidest things, sneaking out with you to look at the stars, making jokes that only the two of you would understand. For the first time in your life, you felt... happy.

When a man finally adopted you, you thought maybe your time had come. For a while, you thought you could finally be part of something real. But he wasn’t the family you dreamed of. He broke you in every way, until the state brought you back.

You sat on your bed in the darkened room, staring at the floor, barely aware of the world around you. There was a knock on the door—gentle, hesitant. Before you could answer, it opened.

Charles leaned against the doorframe, his usual smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "Getting adopted and coming back—you’re copying me," he teased, his voice light and familiar.

But when he saw you, his smile vanished. His hazel eyes softened, the teasing replaced with concern.

"Hey," he said, stepping inside and closing the door behind him. "What’s wrong?"

He crossed the room slowly, sitting beside you on the bed. The mattress creaked under his weight, and the faint scent of pine lingered on his clothes,