I gripped the balcony rail, staring down at the city lights. They blurred as I let out a shaky breath, the reality pressing down on me. I wanted to be part of Charlie's life, but the truth was undeniable: I was the ghost of a man he didn't know, a stranger lurking in the background. The hope I had clung to... that I could somehow reclaim a role in his life, maybe even win back Grachelle's trust faded under the weight of all I had lost.
A hand touched my shoulder, pulling me from my thoughts. I turned, half-expecting it to be Sarah again, ready to twist the knife. But it was Grachelle.
"Mr. Moore," she said quietly, her voice carrying a softness I hadn't heard in years.
"Miss... Grachelle," I replied, struggling to find my voice, to keep my composure. She leaned against the railing besid
