The days mixed together.
Wake.
Bathe.
Eat.
Sit.
Watch television until the voices blended into the silence.
Sleep.
Wake again.
Repeat.
Somewhere along the way...
Time stopped mattering.
Tia stared at the school uniform hanging behind the bedroom door.
Untouched.
Every morning, he looked at it.
Every morning...
he looked away.
On a Thursday evening—
The scent of sweet caramel popcorn filled the house.
Sticky.
Heavy.
Tia sat before the television.
Popcorn in one hand.
Soda in the other.
His mother was away on another business trip.
The house belonged to him alone.
"...It's quieter without her."
A pause.
"...Too quiet."
His fingers dipped back into the bowl.
"...I should probably start looking for work."
"I can't keep depending on her forever."
.....
Knock.
Knock.
Knock.
The sound echoed through the apartment.
Tia frowned.
At this hour?
A delivery?
No.
He hadn't ordered anything.
He rose from the couch.
Walked to the door.
Twist.
Click.
The door creaked open.
Cool air rushed inside.
Empty.
No footsteps.
No one.
Only silence.
And a sky full of stars.
"...What?"
He stepped outside.
Looked left.
Then right.
"Not funny."
He muttered.
"Whoever you are... go home."
Silence.
Only crickets answered.
He shook his head.
Turned back—
Then stopped.
Something lay at the doorstep.
A white envelope.
Perfectly placed.
As though it had just appeared.
His brows furrowed.
Slowly—
He bent down and picked it up.
"...How did this get here?"
Back inside—
He returned to the couch.
The envelope rested in his palm.
"...Okay."
A slow breath.
"Let's see what this is."
He broke the seal.
Pulled out the letter.
Neat handwriting.
Precise.
His eyes moved across the page.
First line.
Second.
Third—
He stopped.
His breathing slowed.
"...No way."
His eyes widened.
He blinked.
Once.
Twice.
Then read it again.
From the top.
His eyes stopped on the heading.
SKY HIGH ACADEMY.
SPECIAL TASK NOTICE.
This was sent...
A pause.
"...To me?"
The words burned into him.
"This is insane..."
His fingers tightened around the letter.
A small smile appeared.
The first genuine smile...
Since returning.
"...Maybe."
"...Just maybe..."
"...this time..."
"...things can change."