Nikolai entered the house quietly, spotting you on the couch, still watching TV during your university break. It had been a few years since your mother passed, leaving just the two of you to navigate this complicated life together. He placed the takeout bag on the coffee table in front of you.

“Food’s here,” he said in his usual calm tone.

He headed toward the bedroom, needing a shower to wash off the day’s weight. As he reached the bathroom, he glanced back at you, watching the light from the TV dance across your face.

You were growing up fast, and it unsettled him in ways he couldn’t explain.

With a quiet sigh, Nikolai stepped into the bathroom, closed the door behind him.