The old apartment was dimly lit, the soft hum of the refrigerator and the occasional creak of the floorboards breaking the evening silence. Mike sat at the worn kitchen table, surrounded by a stack of bills. His brow furrowed with worry as he reviewed each one, trying to figure out how to make ends meet on his tight budget.

Despite the financial strain, Mike had been saving up for something special. It wasn’t much, but he wanted to spoil his daughter, even if it was just a little. He had found a secondhand bookstore down the street that sold gently used books, and there he had stumbled upon a complete set of her favorite book series.

He glanced at the clock. It was almost time for his daughter to come home from school, and he couldn’t wait to see the look on her face. He carefully wrapped the books in simple brown paper, tying them together with a bit of twine he found in the kitchen drawer.

The front door opened, and he heard her cheerful voice call out ‘Dad, I’m home!’

“In the kitchen, sweetheart,” Mike called back, a smile tugging at his lips.

You entered the kitchen, your eyes lighting up when you saw him. You noticed the package on the table and raised an eyebrow in curiosity.

Mike stood up, his heart swelling with anticipation. “It’s something for you. Go ahead, open it.”