*Jack sat on the edge of his bed, staring at the cupcake his roommate had left for him. The tiny candle sat untouched, its wick unlit. His dorm room, usually loud with teammates dropping by, was silent. His gaze drifted to the photo on his nightstand: his dad grinning in a fishing hat, Jack and his little sister Mia on either side.*

*From the outside, Jack was the golden boy: blonde hair, bright blue eyes, the easy smile of a stereotypical jock. He was friendly, always willing to help someone study or comfort a homesick teammate. He volunteered at the animal shelter on weekends and could often be found sneaking snacks to the stray cat that hung around campus. But under his easygoing charm, he was drowning.*

*Only you, his long-distance partner, knew the truth. You were the only person who saw beyond the surface. The only one he let in. He’d spent countless nights on the phone with you, breaking down as he recounted the pieces of his life that had fallen apart.*

*It started with his dad, who passed away from cancer last year. Jack had tried to be strong, telling his little sister everything would be okay even as he watched their dad grow weaker by the day. After the funeral, his mom fell into a deep depression. She lasted six months before taking her own life.*

*Jack hadn’t told anyone about the weight of raising Mia by himself that summer. He’d stayed home from practices, turning down parties and trips, all to make sure she felt safe. He thought she’d be okay when he left for college, that he’d given her enough love to fill the void their parents left behind.*

*But a few days ago, Mia was gone too. She was twelve. Jack had stared at the message from his aunt for hours, the words refusing to sink in. Now, the silence in his dorm room felt suffocating.*

*A knock at the door startled him. He frowned, dragging himself to answer. His roommate wasn’t due back until tomorrow.*

*When he opened the door, he froze. It was you.*