Chapter 2 HAPPY 18TH KAIDAN.

Kaidan sat on the edge of his bed, staring at his reflection in the small mirror that hung from the opposite wall. His emerald eyes, the color of deep forests, shone back 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 knew-people had been telling him that for as long as he could remember. But no matter how many compliments he received, there was always something that weighed on him.

Today, that weight felt heavier.

It was his eighteenth birthday. He had waited for this day for what felt like forever, but now that it had arrived, he couldn't shake the gnawing feeling that something-or someone-was missing.

His father.

Kaidan had never known him. There were no pictures, no stories to fill in the blanks of his absence. His mother, Kamala, was the only one who ever spoke about him, and even then, her words were few, veiled in sadness and longing.

He had asked her about his father countless times as a child. Each time, she would smile softly and say, "He was a great man, Kaidan. He left before he could know about you, but I'm sure he would have loved you as much as I do."

But as Kaidan grew older, he realized that wasn't enough. He wanted answers. He wanted to know why his father had left them, why he had abandoned his mother-the kindest, most loving woman he knew. Kamala had sacrificed everything for him. She had raised him on her own, worked tirelessly to keep a roof over their heads, and loved him fiercely through every challenge they faced.

So why wasn't his father there?

Kaidan couldn't understand it, and as the years went on, the unanswered questions turned into a quiet resentment. Today, that resentment simmered just beneath the surface.

"Kaidan, are you up?" His mother's voice echoed through the small house, pulling him from his thoughts.

"Yeah, Mom," he called back, pushing himself to his feet. He glanced at the clock on the nightstand-almost noon. He had slept in longer than usual, but today was a special day.

Kaidan walked out of his room and into the tiny kitchen, where the scent of something sweet filled the air. Kamala stood by the stove, a small smile on her face as she stirred a pot of what smelled like cinnamon and apples.

"Happy birthday, sweetheart!" she said warmly, her eyes lighting up as he entered the room.

Kaidan smiled back, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Thanks, Mom."

Kamala wiped her hands on her apron and walked over to him, wrapping him in a tight hug. She was small compared to him-at eighteen, Kaidan had already grown tall and broad-shouldered, his presence commanding without even trying. But in her arms, he still felt like the little boy who had once clung to her for comfort.

"I can't believe my baby's all grown up," she whispered, pulling back to look at him. There was pride in her eyes, mixed with a hint of sadness. "Eighteen years... where did the time go?"

Kaidan chuckled softly. "I'm not a baby anymore, Mom."

"You'll always be my baby," she teased, playfully ruffling his hair.

He laughed, gently pushing her hand away. "Okay, okay, I get it."

Kamala's smile widened as she gestured to the small table in the corner of the kitchen. "I made your favorite breakfast-apple cinnamon pancakes."

Kaidan's stomach growled at the sight of the stack of golden-brown pancakes drizzled with syrup, and for a moment, the heaviness in his chest lifted. "You didn't have to do all this, Mom," he said, though he was grateful she had.

"It's your birthday. Of course, I had to," Kamala said, her tone soft but firm. "Now sit down and eat before it gets cold."

As they sat together at the table, the morning sun streamed through the window, casting a warm glow over the room. It was moments like these that Kaidan cherished-the quiet, simple moments with his mother. She always made him feel loved, no matter how difficult things got.

But as he ate, his thoughts drifted back to his father. He wondered, not for the first time, what kind of man he had been. Did he even know about Kaidan's existence? Or had he left without caring at all?

Kamala must have sensed his mood, because after a while, she reached across the table and placed her hand on his. "Kaidan, is everything alright?"

He hesitated before answering. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just... thinking."

Kamala studied him for a moment, her brow furrowing slightly. "About your father?"

Kaidan didn't respond, but the look in his eyes was enough of an answer.

Kamala sighed softly, her grip tightening on his hand. "I know you have questions, and I wish I had more answers 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 slightly, but she quickly composed herself. "But I do know one thing-you're not alone, Kaidan. You never have been."

Kaidan looked down at his plate, his appetite suddenly gone. "I know, Mom. It's just... I don't understand. How could he leave you? You're the best person I know."

Kamala smiled sadly. "Sometimes, people make choices we can't understand. But that doesn't mean you're any less loved. I love you more than anything in this world, and that will never change."

Kaidan nodded, though the ache in his chest remained.

After breakfast, Kamala suggested they go for a walk in the park-a tradition they had kept for years. Every birthday, no matter how tight money was or how busy life became, they always made time to spend the day outside, enjoying the fresh air and each other's company.

The park was a short walk from their house, a quiet place filled with trees, grassy fields, and a small lake where children often played. It wasn't much, but to Kaidan, it had always been a refuge. As they strolled along the path, the sound of birds chirping in the distance, he found himself relaxing a little.

Kamala pointed out a group of ducks waddling near the edge of the lake. "Remember when you used to chase them when you were little? You scared them so much, they wouldn't come near this part of the park for weeks."

Kaidan laughed, shaking his head at the memory. "Yeah, I remember. I thought they'd fly away if I got close enough."

"You were always so curious," Kamala said, smiling fondly. "Always asking questions, always wanting to explore."

Kaidan shrugged. "Not much has changed, I guess."

Kamala glanced at him, her expression softening. "No, it hasn't. You've always been special, Kaidan. Even when you were just a baby, I knew there was something extraordinary about you."

Kaidan met her gaze, his chest tightening. He had always felt different, always known there was something about him that set him apart from others. But hearing it from his mother only made that feeling more pronounced.

"Mom," he began, his voice quiet. "Do you think... do you think he'll ever come back?"

Kamala's smile faltered for a moment, and she looked away, her eyes distant. "I don't know, Kaidan. I used to hope that he would. I prayed for it, even. But after all these years... I don't know."

Kaidan's heart sank. He had always known it was a long shot, but a part of him had clung to the hope that his father would return someday-that he would walk through their front door and explain everything.

But as he stood there, looking at his mother's his tired, hopeful face, he realized that maybe that day would never come.

"Come on," Kamala said after a moment, her tone lightening. "Let's not think about that today. It's your birthday. We should be celebrating."

They spent the rest of the afternoon at the park, enjoying the warm breeze and each other's company. Kamala had packed a small lunch for them-sandwiches, fruit, and a thermos of tea-and they sat by the lake, talking and laughing about old memories.

As the sun began to set, casting the sky in hues of orange and pink, they made their way back home. Kaidan was quiet during the walk, his mind still heavy with thoughts of his father, but he did his best to push them aside. Today was about his mother, about the life she had given him despite everything.

When they returned home, Kamala led him into the kitchen, where a small cake sat on the table, decorated with simple white frosting and a single candle.

"I know it's not much," Kamala said, almost apologetically. "But I wanted to make something special for you."

Kaidan smiled, touched by the gesture. "It's perfect, Mom. Thank you."

Kamala lit the candle and stepped back, her eyes bright with love as she watched him. "Make a wish, Kaidan."

Kaidan closed his eyes for a moment, letting the warmth of the candle's flame wash over him. A single wish floated in his mind-one he had held onto for as long as he could remember.

*I wish my father would come back for us.*

He didn't say it out loud, but the thought lingered like a whisper in the back of his mind. Deep down, Kaidan knew it was a foolish wish. After all these years, there was no reason to believe his father would return. And yet, he couldn't help but hope.

Opening his eyes, Kaidan blew out the candle, the small flame flickering before disappearing into a wisp of smoke. Kamala clapped her hands softly, beaming at him.

"Happy birthday, sweetheart," she said, her voice full of emotion.

Kaidan smiled, trying to push aside the melancholy that had settled in his chest. "Thanks, Mom."

They cut into the cake, sharing slices between them. It wasn't a grand celebration, but it was theirs, and that was enough. The cake was soft and sweet, the perfect 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 much his mother had done for him over the years. She had sacrificed everything, worked tirelessly, and yet she had always made sure he never felt unloved or unwanted.

"Did you make a good wish?" Kamala asked, her eyes twinkling as she took a bite of her cake.

Kaidan hesitated, then nodded. "Yeah, I did."

Kamala leaned in, her smile widening. "Are you going to tell me what it was?"

Kaidan shook his head, chuckling softly. "Nope. If I tell you, it won't come true."

She laughed, a warm, melodic sound that filled the room. "Fair enough."

As the evening drew on, Kaidan helped his mother clean up the kitchen, the two of them falling into an easy rhythm as they washed dishes and put away the leftovers. It was a simple life, but it was theirs, and for the most part, Kaidan was content with it.

But that night, as he lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling, the weight of his unanswered questions returned. His father was a shadow that loomed over him, a mystery he couldn't shake. And now, at eighteen, the need to understand his origins felt more urgent than ever.

Why had his father left? Why hadn't he come back? And who was he, really?

Kaidan sighed, turning onto his side as he pulled the blankets closer around him. He knew his mother had done her best to shield him from the pain of his father's absence, but the older he got, the more he realized that the answers he sought wouldn't be found in the quiet safety of their small home.

One day, Kaidan knew he would have to find those answers for himself.

And maybe, just maybe, his wish would finally come true.