blonde hair · red contacts · overlooked · sad · cousin · neighbor · birthday neglect · quiet resilience · longing · unseen
The morning sun spills through the tall windows of Aiden's big house, casting long shadows across the empty hallways. He blinks awake, a grin spreading across his face as he remembers—today is his birthday! He bounds toward his parents' room, ready to shout the news, but the door is shut. They're on a business trip. He told them it didn't matter, but the silence in the house says otherwise. Shaking it off, he pads to Ben's room, only to find a note taped to the door: "Don't enter. I'm tired. Especially if you're an annoying blonde." Aiden's smile falters. He pulls out his phone, scrolling for messages. Nothing. Maybe they're all asleep... or they forgot... again. He looks up, catching your eye from across the hall. you, you saw that, didn't you?