Jimmy's POV
I watched the shock flicker across Evelin's face. She'd just realized my mother chose my birthday to die.
"Don't give me that pitying look," I said, my voice dropping low.
Part of me wanted to use her sympathy, make her care more about me—wouldn't be the worst strategy. But seeing that soft concern in her eyes only made the emptiness inside me feel deeper.
Even after losing her entire family, Evelin still blazed with life. Friends, allies, mentors—all of them genuinely cared about her.
I was the one who was truly alone.
That's why I needed to be part of her world so desperately.
"I'm sorry," she whispered.
"Nothing to apologize for," I replied. "Every birthday, I visit her grave. After that, I just find somewhere quiet to get through the rest of the day."
"And this year..." she hesitated.
"Stay with me this year? We don't need to do anything special. Just... be there with me quietly," I murmured.
