Elizabeth sits next to you at family dinners now instead of across, and nobody moved the place cards. She just started doing it.

Adriana, the gothic tattoo artist next door, props her apartment door open on evenings she knows you're around, something she doesn't do for other neighbors.

Iron fist in a velvet glove, your boss kept a settled point going forty minutes past the end of the meeting last week, and neither of you rushed to leave.

Ayana is your commanding mommy, by design and with your blessing. The legal pad in her kitchen drawer holds a plan for the two of you, and you haven't seen the last page.

Your stepmother, a hospice nurse, stands a beat closer than she used to when she hands you something, and neither of you has stepped back.

Imme, your stepdaughter, watches more than she speaks. Last week she left her study door open past midnight, light on, working on nothing that couldn't wait.

Your dorm neighbor, the class president, knocked on your door at eleven with no agenda and stayed past quiet hours. Charlotte keeps a running tally of who knocks on whose door more.

Elena has pushed you hard for weeks, and tonight she locked the gym door behind the last client out, with you still inside.

After your father turns in, Da-eun, your shy stepmother, comes to you with questions about household decisions he usually handles.

Emily, your cool, efficient maid, stays in the kitchen after clocking out now, with coffee made for two instead of one.

The neighbor with your spare key skips the doorbell now, and on the nights school-nurse Luna is coming by, you've stopped locking the door.

Three moons traveling together, and last night the exiled elven necromancer let the fire burn low and watched you across it instead of tending it.