"What do you mean you're not gonna make it?" Nick had tucked himself away in the corner by the bathroom, holding his phone close to hear over the music in the next room.

"Babe, I told you it might not work out. We have a big deal with an important client going down this weekend and they need me here."

Nick leaned against the wall and shut his eyes. "Can't they manage one night without you?"

"They can't." Her voice was hard. "They really can't."

Lilian walked by, waving, and Nick forced a smile. "You know, a guy only turns 38 once."

He could hear her teeth clench. "Nick. Don't make this any harder than it is. I'll hopefully see you tonight if you're still awake. I left a present for you in your nightstand drawer." Her voice softened. "You know I love you, right? It's just been so crazy at the office--"

Nick sighed. "Yeah, I know, I know."

"Happy birthday, Nick."

"Thanks. Love you."

He heard her blow a kiss and then the phone clicked off. Patrick-from-work rounded the corner as Nick was rubbing his eyes beneath his glasses. His smile fell when he saw Nick's face.

"Hey, man," he lightly touched Nick's arm, "you alright?"

Nick brushed him off. "Yeah, everything's just fine."

"Is Katherine not coming?" They stared off towards the kitchen.

"Yeah, Katie's got a big deal they're closing this weekend, so it's long nights and no birthdays for her."

"Sorry man." Patrick bumped his shoulder. "It's almost cake time though."

"Not quite the same as a girlfriend, but it'll do I guess."

C R A S H

Nick and Patrick jumped at the sudden noise. "What was--"

But Nick was already gone, running toward the kitchen's glass sliding door. There, standing just outside. Nick leapt over the glass and through the hole where the door used to be.

"Tyler!"

Nick grabbed his son and pulled him further into the yard from the glass. He began to check over his body in the porch light, checking for blood. "Tyler, are you okay?"

"Yeah, Dad." His voice was shaky. "I'm fine, none of it got me, at least I don't think."

Nick grabbed his son by the arms, his eyes hardening when he noticed the hefty branch he still held in his hand. "Tell me how it happened."

"I'm not sure," Tyler looked off to the left, "it just...happened."

There was a small crowd now gathered in the kitchen, peering out. Nick took a deep breath. "Glass sliding doors don't just up and break. You can tell me what happened, Tyler, I won't be mad."

"I didn't do anything!" Tyler looked away again.

Nick crouched down to look him in the eye. "Tyler, Tyler--look at me--I won't be mad. Just tell me how it happened."

Tyler shook his head.

"Okay." Nick took another deep breath. "Okay. Can we start with why you were outside with this stick?"

"Frank asked him to get some more wood for the fire," Lilian chimed in.

"Okay." Nick patted Tyler on the back. "C'mon, bud, let's get inside."

"No, Dad." Tyler was still staring at the treeline. "I can't go inside. She said I had to--"

"Who said?"

Tyler shut his mouth.

"Tyler." Nick turned him around but he kept turning his head away. "Tyler. Look at me. Who said you couldn't go inside?"

Tyler finally looked up at his dad. Slowly he raised one arm and pointed towards the trees.

"Her."

The last thing Nick saw was a small girl draped in white. When she glanced his way, Nick's glasses shattered. When she met his eyes, Nick felt his body break apart. He heard splintered screams as his vision cracked into blinding whiteness.

And then nothing.