bOutside /bthe window, neon lights flickered across the city, bevery /bbapartment /bbglowing /bbwith /bbits /bown bstory/b.

Charlotte sat cross–legged on her bed,ptop bnced in herp as she worked through tomorrow’s surgical n.

Her phone buzzed–it was Hiram.

She answered, not even getting a word in before Hiram’s boisterous voice burst through the line. “Sis! Did you forget my birthday’s the day after tomorrow? Are byou /band Evandering or not?”

Charlotte froze for a second, then nced at the date.

June 10th.

Time really did slip by.

“I haven’t forgotten,” she replied, lowering her gaze with a faint smile. After a moment’s hesitation, she added, “But I can’t promise your brother–inw will make

it.”

Hiram was about to say something when, suddenly, their father’s voice cut in–he must have snatched the phone. “Lottie, your mom and I want to throw your brother a proper birthday dinner. You and Evander have toe–no excuses! He needs you both there!”

“Dad, you’re putting her on the spot,” Hiram protested.

“What do you know, you little rascal?” their father barked.

Hiram reimed the phone and retreated to the hallway, themotion fading behind him. “Ignore Dad, sis. If Evander’s busy, it’s fine–really. I just want you

there.”

“Okay,” Charlotte said softly, her voice rougher than she intended.

The call ended. Staring at her screen, Charlotte fell into a long, pensive silence.

Birthdays…

OR

She hadn’t celebrated her own since she turned eight.

But for her little brother, she couldn’t bear to let him down.

b09:48 /b

She bpicked /bbup /bher bphone /bbto text /bEvander.

bShe /bbtyped/bb, /bbdeleted/b, brewrote/bb–/bbseveral /bbtimes/bb–/bbuntil /bthe bmessage /bblooked /bcasual benough/b. bOnly /bbthen /bbdid /bshe finally bhit /bbsend/b.

bBut /bbonce /bbit /bwas gone, it was as if she’d thrown a stone into ba /bbbottomless /bbwell/b.

Charlotte didn’t wait for a reply. She tossed her phone aside and bburied /bbherself /bin work.

The next morning, Charlotte dressed and stepped into the living room–only to freeze at the sight of Evander.

Lana had the day off, of all days.

Charlotte pressed her lips together and approached. “When did you get back?b” /b

“After midnight,” Evander replied, seated at the breakfast table, leafing through a magazine. A te of pastries and eggs sat untouched in front of him.

“I texted youst night-”

“I saw it.”

“…So are youing?”

Evander looked up, eyes locking on hers. “Do you want me to?”

Charlotte drew a slow breath, tossing the question back at him. “Would youe if I did?”

He turned a page. “Depends.”

Charlotte fell silent.

Which, of course, meant he probably wouldn’te.

She hadn’t expected much from him anyway.

She was about to leave when Evander stopped her.

She paused. “Is there something else?”

He nudged the breakfast toward her. “Eat before you go.”

He closed his magazine and headed to his study.

Charlotte nced at the te, then at his retreating figure. Puzzlement an of something else tangled inside her.

flicker

???

09:48

She bcouldn’t /bfigure him bout /btely

bShe /bleft bthe /bbbreakfast /bbuntouched /band bwalked /bbout /bbthe /bbdoor/b.

bWhen /bEvander returned bfrom /bhis studyter, his beyes /bfell bon /bbthe /bbcold/bb, /bbuntouched /bbfood/bb. /bbHis /bexpression immediately darkened.

Ungrateful woman.

He dumped the breakfast straight into the trash.

Charlotte spent the entire morning in the operating room, only emerging at bnoon/b.

Families who’d been waiting outside for hours gathered around her as soon as she appeared.

She pulled off her mask and smiled. “The surgery was a sess.”

Relief washed over the family’s anxious faces, and they thanked her over and over.

After giving them a few instructions, Charlotte headed back to her office–only to run into Genevieve and Tricia at the nurses‘ station.