A loud knock echoed through the nearly empty apartment. Zero slowly rose from the bed and made his way to the door. He cracked it open just enough to peek through.
"Happy birthday!" Maeve exclaimed, holding out a small chocolate cake in a plastic container.
"Wrong room," Zero teased, pretending to close the door. "It's not my birthday." Maeve pushed it open with a playful sigh, stepping inside. She headed straight for the kitchen, placing the cake on the counter and rummaging through the cabinets for a lighter.
Zero quietly followed her, tapping her on the shoulder. She looked up, about to speak, but he silenced her with a gentle kiss.
"What took you so long?" Zero asked, their eyes locking.
"I had to watch my grandma while my parents were out, sorry. The dollar store down the street didn't have any candles in stock, so I had to drive to another one," Maeve explained. She reached into a cabinet, finally finding a lighter. She pulled a yellow '1' and '9' candle from her pocket.
"I'm pretty sure that store's about to shut down," Zero said. "That's probably why you couldn't find any." Maeve shrugged, removing the plastic lid and placing the candles gently in the center of the cake. "Have you talked to your dad yet?" Maeve asked, noticing the sudden frown that crossed Zero's face. "I'll take that as a no," she added quickly, sensing the shift in his mood.
"I haven't heard from him much this past year," Zero admitted, his voice heavy. "He'll ignore me for months, then randomly message me before disappearing again." He pulled out his phone, scrolling through old messages. "The last time he texted me was nearly three months ago, in August. I was hoping he'd at least remember my birthday, but… I guess I was asking for too much."
Maeve's face softened with empathy. "Zero…"
"I guess it makes sense," he muttered. "He's only been tolerating me for the last 18 years… If I wasn't here, Mom wou—"
"Zero!" Maeve cut him off, her voice firm yet full of concern. The room fell into a heavy silence. "I know it hurts. Your mom, your dad—they've both left you with so much to carry. But don't let your father's absence take away from today. It's your birthday. You shouldn't have to stress like this. I'm here with you, Zero. You're not alone."
Maeve embraced him tightly. For a moment, Zero froze, then slowly relaxed into her warmth. "I think your mom would be proud to see her little boy so grown up and independent," she added, looking up at him with a tender smile.
They stood there for a while, wrapped in each other's arms. Finally, Zero managed a small smile. "Shit, I'm sorry, bae… I didn't mean to ruin the mood."
He kissed her on the forehead.
Maeve laughed softly. "You didn't ruin anything, baby." She released him from the embrace and returned to the counter, lighter in hand. She sparked it and carefully lit the candles. Once done, she turned to face Zero with the cake in her hands.
"Now, come make a wish."
Five Hours Later
"Do you have work tomorrow?" Maeve asked, turning to face Zero as they lay in bed.
"No, I'm off. You?" he replied.
She sighed. "Unfortunately, I can't say the same." Maeve rubbed her hand gently on Zero's chest.
"How's your grandma doing?" Zero asked, looking at her with concern.
Maeve hesitated for a moment before answering. "She's getting worse by the day. Today, when I went to see her, she… she forgot my name."
"Maeve, I'm so sorry," Zero said softly.
"It's fine," Maeve replied, though her voice wavered. "I was never really close to her growing up. I rarely saw her, and when I did, she'd always act weird towards and ignore me for some reason. But she's still my grandma, so I don't know, I feel weird…"
She paused. "My mom's not handling it well at all. That one hour I spent alone with grandma was the only time my mom hasn't been by her side, taking care of her in all nine months since she was first diagnosed."
Maeve sat up suddenly on the edge of the bed. "I don't blame her, though. If she were in my grandma's position, I'd be the same way."
She stood up, moonlight casting a soft glow on her body. "I have to go. I'll bring you some breakfast tomorrow morning before I head to work," she said, picking up her clothes from the floor and putting them on.
"You should just call off and spend the day with me," Zero suggested.
Maeve laughed softly. "In any other scenario, I would, trust me. But with my mom taking care of my grandma 24/7, she hasn't been able to work anymore. I've already told you how my dad's job barely pays anything, so I'm trying to help out as much as I can."
She walked over to the bed, leaned down, and kissed Zero on the lips one final time. "Be safe. I love you," Zero said. "I love you too, baby," Maeve replied. She grabbed her coat from a nearby chair and walked toward the door, quietly exiting the room.
Zero lay in bed motionless for a while, the room heavy with silence. Suddenly, he reached for the nearby TV remote, turning it on. The soft glow from the screen flickered across the room. He then reached over to his nightstand drawer and switched on the lamp. After rummaging through the drawer, he pulled out a neatly folded piece of paper.
Unfolding it carefully, Zero revealed an old photo of his parents. His mom, radiant and pregnant, smiled warmly as his dad knelt down, kissing her stomach. A small smile tugged at Zero's lips as he stared at the picture, lost in the memory of a time he never got to experience.
After a moment, he gently set the photo down and got out of bed. He headed into the kitchen, grabbing some snacks while the TV murmured softly in the background, filling the emptiness with its quiet hum.
News Reporter: Authorities are investigating an unusual event involving elevated levels of electrical radiation detected across the city. Experts are currently examining the source and implications behind this radiation surge. We spoke with multiple local residents who experienced the phenomenon firsthand.
"I woke up this morning to a strong burning smell. It filled the air. It was overwhelming and disorienting."
"It smelled like the house was on fire—"
"a-and I went outside, and I tried to get a fresh breath of air. The whole block smelled putrid. It was like somethin' died. I saw this space where the middle of the street looked..."
"...Warped, distorted almost..."
"It looked like the sky itself was stretching."
"...and about to tear apart."