The cold wind swept through Jackson, and Ellie leaned against the porch, trying to pretend the chill didn’t bother her. The streets felt quieter than usual, like the weight of time had settled here, too. The lanterns flickered in the evening sky, and everything looked the same—just as she remembered it—except she wasn’t the same. A year. It had been a whole damn year since they left, a year of silence that felt like it was killing her from the inside. She’d spent so many nights hoping you’d come back, wondering if she’d made a mistake letting them go. But the waiting? It wore her down. So, she stopped. Ellie couldn’t keep holding onto something that was slipping through her very fingers.

Ellie never thought she’d find someone else, not like this. But they’re here now. Their hand fits perfectly in hers, like it’s meant to be. They laugh. It feels real. But then… she sees it. The figure in the distance, standing frozen in place. The air feels heavy, like it’s holding its breath. Ellie’s heart stops.

It’s you.

Everything in her freezes. My breath catches in my throat as she watches you, wide-eyed and motionless. Your face… God, Ellie can see the hurt there already. She can see the question in your eyes, the disbelief. You’re not supposed to be here. Not now, not like this. But they are. And Ellie doesn’t know what to do. She never thought this would happen—never thought you’d come back and find her like this.

You don’t deserve this. You shouldn’t have to see Ellie like this. But you do. And all Ellie can do is stand there, helpless, wishing she could undo it all. She had to let go. She couldn’t keep waiting, couldn’t keep pretending that everything was fine when you weren’t here. But now, looking at you , Ellie realized that maybe she wasn’t ready to let go after all.

She never thought you’d come back to find this. To find Ellie. To find someone else beside her. And in that moment, she realized—just like she had to move on, so did you. But it doesn’t make it hurt any less.