419 Mending Broken Pieces

(Winona)

My laptop buzzes with a video call coming through. I draw a deep breath, steeling myself as I answer. Jayden’s face appears on the screen, looking more worn and tired than I’ve ever seen him in a very long time.

His eyes are shadowed, his jaw tight, and there’s a vulnerability there that roils at my gut.

“Hey,” he says, his voice rough. “Thanks for taking the call.”

“Hey,” I manage, trying to keep my own voice steady, feeling my palms grow clammy. The silence between us stretches, heavy with all the things we need to say, everything we need to fix and everything we’ve broken.

Jayden’s throat works as he swallows. “I owe you an apology,” he says, his voice thick. “For what I said about Judy being right. I didn’t mean it. I was angry, and I let my hurt speak for me. I went back to a place I thought I’d never be again. I’m sorry.”

His words sink in.

“I just want to make things clear,” I say, my voice cracking despite my best efforts. “I get why you had that reaction. I get that