Chapter 24 — Pieces of Forgiveness
The school felt quieter than usual. Jay walked through the halls, her backpack heavy, but her steps lighter than they had been for weeks. The storm in her chest hadn't passed, not completely, but she was learning how to breathe through it.
Ci-n and David approached her hesitantly during lunch. Jay tensed automatically, bracing herself for another confrontation.
"We… we need to explain," David started, voice careful, almost pleading.
Jay crossed her arms, eyes cold. "Explain what? That you were part of Keifer's plan to make me fall in love with him? That you… lied?"
Ci-n shook his head quickly. "No! We didn't have a choice. Keifer… he—he forced us. We didn't want this either."
Jay stared at them, trying to feel the anger flare. But beneath it, a quiet part of her recognized the truth. They hadn't enjoyed this. They had been trapped in the same storm she had.
She exhaled slowly. "So… you're saying you were forced?"
David nodded. "Yes. We didn't want to hurt you, Jay. Not really."
For the first time in weeks, Jay let the tightness in her chest loosen a little. It didn't erase the pain, but it gave her something to hold onto: a small thread of understanding.
Alys Slowly Breaking
Later that afternoon, Jay found Alys sitting on the steps behind the school, her shoulders trembling, hands clutching her bag.
"Hey," Jay said softly, sitting beside her. "You okay?"
Alys shook her head, tears spilling down her cheeks. "I… I can't do this anymore, Jay. Everything… the breakup, the lies, the chaos—it's too much."
Jay's hand found Alys's, gripping it gently. "I know. I feel it too."
Alys leaned against her, sobbing quietly, the tears soaking into Jay's shoulder. For a moment, Jay let herself cry too, feeling the weight of it all, not just her own heartbreak but the heartbreak of everyone she loved.
They stayed like that for a long while, letting the quiet comfort of each other's presence absorb some of the pain.
Forgiveness in Small Steps
By evening, Jay had talked to Ci-n and David again, her voice steadier now. "I'm… not ready to forget. But I can start forgiving. You didn't want this either. I see that now."
Ci-n smiled faintly. "Thank you, Jay. That… means everything."
David nodded, relief flooding his features. "We'll make it right, somehow. I promise."
Jay took a deep breath, feeling a tiny spark of hope in the middle of her heartbreak. Life wasn't perfect. The wounds were still raw. But maybe… maybe there were pieces worth picking up.
And somewhere in the background, as the sun dipped below the horizon, Jay and Alys clung to those pieces, trying to rebuild themselves—fragile, broken, but not completely defeated.