The days that followed were heavy with unspoken words, a quiet tension that lingered in every room, in every glance. Nia could feel it a subtle shift in the air. The aftermath of her decision to turn Eli down had left scars, both on him and on her. They were all aware of it, but no one dared to bring it up.

Nia found herself wandering the ruins of the city, her footsteps echoing in the vast emptiness. The Nexus had grown quieter, more still, as if it, too, was holding its breath. She couldn’t shake the feeling that the world was waiting for something waiting for her, for them, for a decision that needed to be made.

She paused at the edge of the city’s broken wall, looking out over the horizon. The sun was low, casting a warm, golden hue over the landscape. It should have been peaceful, but all Nia could feel was the weight of her choices pressing down on her shoulders.

Behind her, Jax’s footsteps approached. She didn’t need to turn around to know it was him. His presence was like a constant shadow, always there, always steady.

“You’re avoiding him,” Jax said quietly, his voice breaking the silence.

Nia flinched, the words cutting through her thoughts. She hadn’t meant to avoid Eli, but every time she saw him, the guilt twisted in her chest, making it harder to breathe. She couldn’t offer him something she didn’t have, and pretending otherwise would only make things worse.

“I’m not avoiding him,” Nia replied, her voice steady, though her insides churned. “I just... don’t know what to say anymore.”

Jax leaned against the wall beside her, his eyes fixed on the same horizon. “You don’t owe him anything, Nia. You made your choice. He’ll have to accept it, eventually.”

Her gaze shifted to Jax, his features unreadable in the dimming light. “And what about you?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. “Do you think I’ve made the right choice?”

Jax’s expression softened, his gaze meeting hers with an intensity that sent a shiver down her spine. “I think you did what you had to do,” he said, his tone low. “But you don’t have to carry it alone.”

For a moment, Nia felt a flicker of hope, like a candle in the dark. She turned fully toward Jax, the space between them narrowing just enough for her to feel the heat of his presence.

I don’t know how to fix this,” she admitted, the words slipping out before she could stop them. “I don’t know how to fix... any of this.”

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Jax stepped closer, his eyes searching hers. “You don’t have to fix anything, Nia. Sometimes, you just have to keep going. One step at a time.”

His words were a balm, soothing the ache inside her that she hadn’t even realized was there. She had been so focused on the past, on everything she had done wrong, that she had forgotten to look forward. Jax was right. She couldn’t change the past, and she couldn’t undo the mistakes she had made. But she could move forward.

“You’re right,” she said, her voice gaining strength. “I can’t fix it. But I can make it right. Somehow.”

Jax’s lips twitched upward, a faint smile playing at the corners of his mouth. “You always do.”

Nia felt the weight of his words settle in her chest, grounding her. She wasn’t alone in this. Not with Jax by her side.

But even as she felt a flicker of peace, the thought of Eli lingered in the back of her mind. She had hurt him, and no matter what path she chose now, the scars would remain. The consequences of her decisions would ripple through everything, shaping the future in ways she couldn’t yet understand.

Nia stood there for a long moment, the silence between her and Jax comforting yet unnerving at the same time. The weight of her choices each one she’d made, each one still lingering settled deeper into her chest. She could feel the pressure mounting, but Jax’s presence, though heavy, was steady. He wasn’t demanding anything from her, but his quiet understanding was enough to keep her grounded.

“I’m scared,” she admitted softly, the words barely audible above the wind that whispered through the city’s broken walls. “Scared that no matter what I do, I’ll keep hurting people.”

Jax looked at her, his gaze unwavering. “You can’t protect everyone, Nia. Sometimes, people get hurt. But that doesn’t mean you have to carry their pain forever.”

She swallowed hard, the sting of his words piercing her heart. He was right, of course. She had spent so much time trying to shield everyone around her, trying to fix things that were beyond her control. But now, standing on the precipice of a world she had created, Nia realized that the one person she had neglected to take care of was herself.

“I don’t know how to move on from this,” she whispered, more to herself than to Jax.

He stepped closer, the distance between them nearly gone. There was no hurry in his movements, only a quiet certainty. “One step at a time. That’s all any of us can do.”

For the first time in a long while, Nia felt a flicker of hope, like a small light breaking through the darkness. Maybe Jax was right. Maybe she didn’t have to have all the answers right now.

“I’ll face it,” she said finally, her voice stronger. “I’ll talk to Eli, fix what I can. But I have to do this my way.”

Jax gave a small, knowing smile. “I’ll be here, no matter what.”

Nia nodded, feeling the weight in her chest lift slightly. The future was uncertain, but for the first time in a long time, she felt like she could take the next step. And when she did, she wouldn’t be alone.

“I’ll talk to him,” she murmured, almost to herself.

Jax nodded, his expression softening. “When you’re ready.”

And with that, Nia finally felt the first spark of hope that things could still be mended. She didn’t know how, and she didn’t know when, but she had to believe that there was a way to move forward, even if it meant facing the consequences of her heart.