ack at him with a brightness that had always set him apart. His long dark hair framed his face in soft waves, falling past his shoulders. He was handsome, that much he

t weight f

hat felt like forever, but now that it had arrived, he couldn't

fa

e blanks of his absence. His mother, Kamala, was the only one who ever spoke

would smile softly and say, "He was a great man, Kaidan. He left before he

hy he had abandoned his mother-the kindest, most loving woman he knew. Kamala had sacrificed everything for him. She had raise

n't his fa

the unanswered questions turned into a quiet resentment.

voice echoed through the small ho

He glanced at the clock on the nightstand-almost noon. He

f something sweet filled the air. Kamala stood by the stove, a small smile

she said warmly, her eyes ligh

gh it didn't quite reach

pared to him-at eighteen, Kaidan had already grown tall and broad-shouldered, his presence commanding with

ng back to look at him. There was pride in her eyes, mixed wit

ftly. "I'm not a b

by," she teased, playfu

shing her hand away.

all table in the corner of the kitchen. "I made

drizzled with syrup, and for a moment, the heaviness in his chest lifted. "Y

" Kamala said, her tone soft but firm. "N

arm glow over the room. It was moments like these that Kaidan cherished-the quiet, simple m

, not for the first time, what kind of man he had been. Did he even

a while, she reached across the table and placed

swering. "Yeah, I'm fi

ment, her brow furrowing sl

ut the look in his eyes

for you. But the truth is, I don't know why he left. I don't know why he didn't come back." Her voice wavered sli

gone. "I know, Mom. It's just... I don't understand.

derstand. But that doesn't mean you're any less loved. I love yo

ough the ache in

t for years. Every birthday, no matter how tight money was or how busy life became, they

lake where children often played. It wasn't much, but to Kaidan, it had always been a refuge. As they

"Remember when you used to chase them when you were little? You scared

e memory. "Yeah, I remember. I thought

said, smiling fondly. "Always asking

"Not much has c

't. You've always been special, Kaidan. Even when you were ju

always known there was something about him that set him apart from othe

uiet. "Do you think... do yo

es distant. "I don't know, Kaidan. I used to hope that he would.

art of him had clung to the hope that his father would return someda

ther's his tired, hopeful face, he reali

lightening. "Let's not think about that today.

h other's company. Kamala had packed a small lunch for them-sandwiches, fruit, and

aidan was quiet during the walk, his mind still heavy with thoughts of his father, but he did his bes

itchen, where a small cake sat on the table, decor

almost apologetically. "But I wante

by the gesture. "It's p

ck, her eyes bright with love as she

he candle's flame wash over him. A single wish floated in hi

her would come

s mind. Deep down, Kaidan knew it was a foolish wish. After all these years, there w

l flame flickering before disappearing into a wisp of

heart," she said, her

ide the melancholy that had sett

ect end to the day Kamala had put so much effort into making special. As they sat together at the small kitchen table, Kaidan couldn't help but marvel at how muc

mala asked, her eyes twinkling

d, then nodded.

le widening. "Are you goi

kling softly. "Nope. If I t

lodic sound that filled

m falling into an easy rhythm as they washed dishes and put away the leftovers. It wa

questions returned. His father was a shadow that loomed over him, a mystery he couldn't

Why hadn't he come back

had done her best to shield him from the pain of his father's absence, but the older he got, the mo

would have to find tho

ybe, his wish woul