The calendar on the fridge was circled in bright red: April 15th, Alex's 8th birthday. For weeks, he'd been bubbling with excitement, his illness momentarily overshadowed by the anticipation of his special day.
"Can we go skating for my birthday?" Alex asked one morning over breakfast, his eyes shining with hope as he pushed his cereal around the bowl.
Mik watched their parents exchange a pained look across the kitchen table. "Sweetie," Mom began gently, setting down her coffee mug, "I don't think that would be safe with your heart condition."
Alex's face fell, but only for a moment. "What about Cedar Point? They must have some rides I could go on!"
Dad ruffled Alex's hair, his fingers lingering protectively. "Maybe when you're feeling a bit stronger, champ. Those rides can be pretty intense."
As the days went by, Alex's suggestions became more modest, but no less challenging for his fragile health. The fair, the zoo, even a simple trip to the park seemed fraught with risk.
Finally, a week before his birthday, Alex's face lit up with an idea. "What about a movie? The new Mars Colony adventure is out. I bet it's amazing in VR!"
Mik saw their parents visibly relax. "That sounds perfect, sweetie," Mom said, relief evident in her voice.
"We'll make it a family outing," Dad added. "Shae too, if she's free."
On the day of the birthday trip, Mik helped Alex get ready, noticing how quickly he tired just from putting on his shoes. His excitement seemed to drain his limited energy even faster than usual.
"Maybe we should bring the wheelchair," Mom suggested cautiously from the doorway.
Alex's face clouded. "I don't want to use that. Everyone will stare."
Mik knelt beside their brother, meeting his eyes. "How about this? I'll give you a piggyback ride. It'll be like you're a space explorer, and I'm your trusty robot assistant!"
Alex's grin returned full force. "Really? You'd do that?"
"Of course," Mik said, ruffling his hair. "What are siblings for?"
Shae met them in the parking lot of the theater, her smile bright as she handed Alex a small, wrapped package. The late afternoon sun cast long shadows as the three adults huddled together near the car, their foreheads touching for a moment in a gesture of shared concern and support. Mik noticed how naturally their mom leaned into both Dad and Shae, how Shae's hand found Dad's shoulder with familiar comfort.
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As promised, Mik hoisted Alex onto their back for the walk to the entrance. The spring air was crisp, hinting at the warmth to come. Suddenly, Mik froze.
"Look!" they gasped, pointing at the sky.
Hovering above them was a perfect circle of shimmering light, like a soap bubble suspended in the air. It pulsed gently, its edges rippling with an otherworldly energy.
"Whoa," Alex breathed, his arms tightening around Mik's neck. "What is that?"
For about thirty seconds, the siblings stared in awe at the phenomenon. Mik's mind raced with possibilities - was it a new type of drone? Some kind of weather anomaly? Or could it be...
"Mom! Dad! Shae!" Mik called out, turning to where the adults still stood by the car, deep in their quiet conversation. "Look at the sky!"
But by the time the adults looked up, the circle had vanished without a trace.
"What are we looking at?" Dad asked, scanning the empty blue expanse.
"There was a... a circle," Mik tried to explain. "Like a ring of light, just floating there."
The adults exchanged skeptical glances. "Must have been a reflection or something," Mom said gently.
"But we saw it!" Alex insisted. "It was real!"
Shae placed a calming hand on Mik's shoulder. "I'm sure you did see something. Maybe we can look it up later, see if anyone else reported anything similar."
Inside the theater, the movie was everything Alex had hoped for, its immersive VR bringing the red plains of Mars to life around them. When it came time to pay, Shae smoothly handed over her credit chip before anyone else could react.
"Shae, no, we can't let you-" Mom began to protest.
"It's my gift to Alex," Shae said firmly, her tone brooking no argument. "And to all of you. Please, let me do this."
The gratitude in Mom and Dad's eyes was mixed with a hint of shame at needing the help, but they accepted Shae's generosity with quiet thanks.
That night, as Mik tucked Alex into bed, he was still buzzing with excitement from the day.
"Best birthday ever," he mumbled sleepily.
Mik smiled, adjusting his blanket. "I'm glad you had fun, squirt."
As they turned to leave, Alex's voice stopped them. "Mik? That thing we saw in the sky... what do you think it was?"
Mik paused, considering. "I don't know," they admitted. "But it was beautiful, wasn't it?"
Alex nodded. "Do you think... do you think it could have been aliens?"
In the dim light of Alex's night light, Mik saw the hope shining in their brother's eyes. Hope for mystery, for wonder, for something beyond the confines of his illness.
"Maybe," Mik said softly. "The universe is full of possibilities, after all."
Mik lingered by the window after Alex drifted off to sleep, gazing up at the stars. The shimmering circle played over and over in their mind. Whatever it was, they couldn't shake the feeling that it was just the beginning of something much bigger.
With a small smile, they made a silent wish on the brightest star they could see - a wish for Alex, for their family, and for whatever adventures the future might hold.