The airplane window was cold against my cheek, but not colder than how I felt inside.
I didn't tell anyone I was leaving.Not Section E.Not Yuri.Not… Keifer.
Especially not Keifer.
I kept waiting for guilt to hit me, but nothing came. Maybe because after everything—every lie, every fake smile—I was done waiting for people who never waited for me.
Percy nudged me with his elbow."You okay?"
I didn't answer.He didn't push.
The plane landed faster than I expected, and Florida air hit me like a warm blanket—thick, humid, familiar in a weird way. Papa's house wasn't far. I hadn't seen him in years, but suddenly that felt safer than everything I left behind.
We grabbed our luggage, and Percy kept looking at his phone nervously—as if someone was tracking us or he was waiting for a bomb to go off.
"Relax," I said. "We made it."
He didn't look convinced.
The taxi ride was quiet. Not awkward quiet—just heavy. Like both of us were scared to breathe because it might pull the past back in.
When we finally pulled up to Papa's house, my heart started pounding. The porch light flickered on, and the door opened before I even knocked.
Papa stepped out, eyes widening."Jay-Jay?"
Everything I'd been holding in—the fear, the anger, the exhaustion—just melted."Hi… Papa."
He hugged me so tight it hurt, but I didn't tell him to stop. For the first time in a long time, I felt… safe.
Percy stood there awkwardly until Papa dragged him into the hug too, laughing.
"You must be Percy. She told me about you."
"Told him… what?" Percy whispered to me.
"Relax," I whispered back. "Only the good stuff."
We went inside, and Papa made food immediately—even though it was almost midnight. I didn't care. It felt like home.
But later, when I was alone in the guest room, staring at the ceiling, the silence felt too loud.
My phone buzzed again and again.
Keifer — Missed CallKeifer — Missed CallKeifer — Message: Jay, please pick up.Message: I'm coming back soon. Please don't disappear.
I turned the phone face-down.
I left for a reason.
I chose myself for once.
Still…Still…
Why did it hurt so much?
I closed my eyes, trying to breathe, but all I saw was him. His face when he whispered he'd explain everything. His voice when he said he'd be back soon.
Maybe in another life he could've told me the truth.
But in this life?
I was done being someone's secret.Someone's plan.Someone's mistake.
Florida was my reset.
My chance to finally forget.
I just didn't know if my heart would let me.