The wind was sharp as Nia walked through the fractured streets of the Nexus, her heart heavy with anticipation. She knew she couldn’t avoid Eli forever. His pain lingered in the air around them, an unspoken presence that seemed to follow her every step. And while she had resolved to be honest, the prospect of confronting his feelings again filled her with dread.

She found him near the ruins of what had once been the Market of Stories a chaotic maze of characters and fragments from her creations. Now, it was quiet, the remnants of stalls and scattered pages whispering of what had been. Eli stood among the ruins, his back to her, gazing at a torn banner flapping in the breeze.

“Eli,” she called softly.

He turned, his expression guarded. There was a flicker of vulnerability in his eyes, but he quickly masked it, forcing a small smile. “Hey.”

Nia stepped closer, her hands clasped tightly in front of her. “I was looking for you.”

“Yeah? What for?” he asked, his voice strained, as if he already knew the answer.

She hesitated. “I... I just wanted to talk. About everything.”

Eli let out a humorless laugh, shaking his head. “What’s left to say, Nia? You’ve already made it pretty clear how you feel.”

“I know,” she replied, her voice gentle but firm. “And I hate that I hurt you. I never wanted that.”

“Then why?” he demanded, his tone sharper now. “Why let me believe there was something between us if you were always going to pull away?”

Nia’s chest tightened. She had no easy answer. “Because I care about you, Eli. More than I can say. But not in the way you deserve.”

He turned away from her, his shoulders tense. “That’s the thing, isn’t it? I don’t want to be ‘cared about.’ I want more. I thought we could have more.”

“I know,” she whispered, stepping closer. “And I wish I could give you that. But I can’t lie to you or to myself. You’re my friend, Eli. One of the best people I’ve ever known. And I don’t want to lose that.”

Eli didn’t respond at first. The silence stretched, heavy and uncomfortable, until he finally sighed. “It’s not fair. Feeling this way knowing I can’t change it. Knowing I have to let you go, even though you’re standing right here.”

Tears stung Nia’s eyes, but she forced them back. “I know it’s not fair. And I’m so sorry, Eli. You mean so much to me, but I can’t give you false hope. That wouldn’t be right.”

He nodded slowly, his movements stiff. “I get it. Doesn’t make it hurt any less, though.”

They stood in silence for a while, the weight of their conversation hanging between them. Finally, Eli turned to her, his expression softer but still tinged with pain.

Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

“Thanks for being honest,” he said. “I’ll figure out how to deal with this. Just... give me some time.”

“I will,” she promised, her voice breaking slightly. “I’m here if you need me. Always.”

As Eli walked away, his figure disappearing into the shadows of the Nexus, Nia felt a pang of loss. She knew she’d done the right thing, but the truth didn’t make it any easier.

She turned to leave, only to find Jax standing nearby, his arms crossed and a guarded look in his eyes.

“You heard that, didn’t you?” she asked, her tone weary.

“Hard not to,” he replied, stepping closer. There was no teasing in his voice this time, only a quiet seriousness. “You okay?”

Nia nodded, though her heart felt heavy. “It’s just... hard. I hate hurting people.”

“Sometimes, doing the right thing hurts,” Jax said, his gaze steady. “Doesn’t mean it’s wrong.”

She managed a faint smile. “You’ve got a knack for saying the right thing, you know that?”

Jax smirked, the tension easing slightly. “Don’t get used to it.”

As they walked side by side through the ruins, Nia felt a strange sense of calm. The road ahead was still uncertain, but at least, for now, she wasn’t facing it alone

The city of the Nexus was a strange place. It was a place of beginnings and endings, of infinite stories, all weaving together in a chaotic dance. And yet, despite the whirlwind of magic and the sense of impending danger, there was a stillness between Nia and Jax that seemed to cut through it all. The air was thick with unspoken words, and though the world around them was in turmoil, in that moment, it was just the two of them.

Nia glanced at Jax, her heart heavy with everything that had happened—Eli’s confession, her own conflicting emotions, the strange pressure she felt in the pit of her stomach. “Do you think it was the right thing?” she asked softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

Jax didn’t answer immediately, his expression unreadable as he glanced ahead, his hands shoved into his pockets. The wind picked up, tugging at their clothes as the world around them began to shift again, as if the very ground beneath them was reacting to the pain in her heart.

Finally, Jax spoke, his tone low but steady. “I think it was the only thing you could do. You can’t give someone what they want if it’s not in you to give it.”

She let out a long breath, relieved by his words. He had a way of cutting through the confusion, speaking with a clarity that Nia had come to rely on. “It doesn’t make it easier, though,” she muttered, glancing down at her hands, still feeling the weight of the decision. “I never wanted to hurt him. But I couldn’t keep leading him on.”

“I get it,” Jax said, turning his head slightly to look at her, his gaze soft. “You’ve always been about doing what’s right, even if it’s hard. But Eli... he’s going to have to figure it out on his own. You can’t carry that burden for him.”

Nia nodded, though she still couldn’t shake the sense of guilt that gnawed at her. She knew Jax was right, but that didn’t make it any easier. She wasn’t sure if she’d ever truly be able to forgive herself for the pain Eli was going through.

They continued walking in silence for a while, the weight of their unspoken thoughts heavy between them. Eventually, Jax broke the quiet. “You’ve been through a lot, Nia. Not just with Eli, but everything. You’ve rewritten worlds, changed fates. You’ve made enemies, and you’ve made allies. And through all of it, you’ve been... carrying it alone.”

Nia’s heart thudded in her chest. She hadn’t realized how much those words would hit her until they did. “I’m not alone,” she said quickly, though the statement felt hollow.

Jax’s eyes met hers, a knowing look passing between them. “You’ve always had people by your side, Nia. But... have you ever let them in?” His voice was gentle, almost as if he was testing the waters, as if he wasn’t sure how much she was ready to face.

Her breath caught in her throat. The question lingered, hanging in the air like a fragile thread. She had always been the one to fix things, to make things right. But in doing so, she had shut herself off from truly letting others in.

“I don’t know,” she whispered, her voice breaking slightly. “I’ve never really let anyone close enough to find out.”

Jax’s expression softened, his gaze intense but full of understanding. “Maybe it’s time you did. Not just for them... but for yourself, too.”

Nia swallowed, trying to push down the sudden surge of emotion that threatened to overwhelm her. Jax had always been the one to challenge her, to make her face things she’d rather leave buried. And in that moment, she realized just how much she relied on him, how much she needed him, even if she didn’t fully understand it yet.

“Maybe you’re right,” she said, her voice barely a whisper, her heart beating faster than she could keep up with.

Jax gave her a small smile, his usual smirk returning. “Hey, don’t get used to it,” he teased, trying to lighten the mood. “I don’t do all the emotional stuff. You’ll have to work out the rest on your own.”

Nia couldn’t help but laugh softly, the sound easing the tension in her chest. “Thanks, Jax. Really.”

“You’re welcome. But remember—no matter what happens, you don’t have to do it alone.” His words were simple, but the weight behind them was anything but.

Nia looked at him, her heart racing, feeling something stir deep within her—a feeling she wasn’t ready to name, but one that was there all the same. The road ahead was uncertain, and the stories still awaited their next chapter. But for the first time in a long while, Nia wasn’t as afraid of what might come next. Not with Jax by her side.