Jayden nodded. "Yeah. It wasn't easy. But i did. It's not a threat anymore."
A flicker of emotion passed through her expression. Relief. Worry. Maybe something deeper.
"I'm glad you're okay," she whispered, her tone softer now. "I was… I was really worried, Jayden. After you left that day, I couldn't sleep. I saw you go in the night. I figured you went looking for it. And I thought… it was my fault. That I pushed you too hard. That I said too much."
Jayden looked at her, surprised. "You saw me?"
"Damn.. she sees everything," he thought.
Jessica exhaled, looking down. "I felt guilty. And selfish. And scared. I thought maybe I'd driven you into something you couldn't handle."
Jayden took a slow step closer. "You didn't force me, Jessica. I was going to face it eventually. It threatened you.. and I couldn't let that happen."
His voice dropped. Gentle. Honest.
"I love you, Jessica. And I'd never let anything hurt you."
She froze.
The hallway fell silent.
