That morning, Jay didn't go to the office.
There was no dramatic reason—no argument, no illness. Just a heaviness she couldn't name, sitting quietly in her chest. She messaged in that she'd take the day off.
Keifer read the message twice.
Take today. Rest.
That was all he replied before heading to work himself, trusting her space the way he always did.
Jay spent the morning alone in the house, moving slowly, wrapped in a calm that felt earned. She made tea. Sat by the window. Let herself breathe.
The doorbell rang.
She frowned. No one ever came unannounced.
When she opened the door, the calm shattered.
Jax stood there.
Behind him—her parents.
For a moment, Jay said nothing. Her body went still, instincts sharpening, old memories clawing their way up.
"We were in the city," her mother said gently, like this was casual. "We thought we should come."
Jax shifted, eyes lingering on Jay's face like he was searching for something he'd lost.
"I didn't know you lived here," he said.
Jay's voice came out flat. "Now you do."
They were already stepping inside.
The air grew heavy.
They sat. Jay didn't offer tea.
Silence stretched until Jax finally spoke. "I made a mistake."
Jay looked at him, unmoved.
"I regret not choosing you," he continued. "Back then. I was stupid. I didn't see what I had."
Her father cleared his throat. "We were wrong too, Jay. We should've asked you. We should've listened."
Her mother reached out. "We want you to come back with us."
Back.
The word echoed like a threat.
Jay let out a slow breath. When she spoke, her voice was steady—but there was steel underneath.
"No."
Jax blinked. "Jay, listen—"
"I am listening," she said sharply. "And I don't want this conversation."
Jax leaned forward. "We could start fresh. A new life. I've changed."
She laughed once—short, humorless. "So did I."
Her mother's eyes filled. "We're your family."
Jay finally stood.
"You were my family when I needed you," she said. "When decisions were made about my life without me. When I was unhappy and no one noticed. When I felt invisible."
Her father frowned. "That's not fair—"
"No," Jay cut in, voice rising just enough to stop him. "What wasn't fair was being expected to accept a life I never chose."
Jax stood too. "You loved me once."
Jay looked at him fully now, eyes clear. "No. I depended on you once. That's not the same thing."
Silence crashed down.
"I don't love you," she continued. "I never did. And I don't want to go back. Not to you. Not to that life."
Her mother whispered, "You're being harsh."
Jay's hands trembled—but she didn't stop. "You don't get to ask for softness now."
She paused, swallowing. "Someone else picked up my broken pieces. Someone stayed when I was tired, sick, scared, quiet. Someone chose me every single day—without needing to regret anything first."
Jax's face tightened. "So that's it? Someone else?"
"Yes," Jay said simply. "And he didn't find me whole. He helped me heal."
They had no answer for that.
Jay opened the door. "You should leave."
Her parents hesitated, then stood slowly. Jax looked back one last time.
"I hope you're happy," he said.
Jay met his gaze. "I am."
The door closed behind them.
Jay leaned against it, breath uneven now that she was alone. Her strength cracked just enough for the truth to rush in.
She slid down, sitting on the floor, arms wrapped around herself.
That was when the door opened again.
Keifer.
He froze when he saw her there.
"Jay?"
She looked up, eyes shining, voice breaking just a little. "You came back early."
He crossed the room in seconds and knelt in front of her. "I felt something was wrong."
She let out a shaky laugh. "Of course you did."
Keifer didn't ask questions. He just pulled her gently into his arms, holding her like she might fall apart if he didn't.
"They came," she whispered. "My parents. Jax."
Keifer's jaw tightened—but his voice stayed calm. "Are you okay?"
"I told them no," she said. "I chose myself. I chose… this life."
Keifer rested his forehead against hers. "You chose what was true."
Tears slipped down her cheeks now. "You joined my broken pieces together. You were there when no one else was."
He held her closer. "And I'll keep being here."
Jay closed her eyes, breathing him in, grounding herself in the one place that never asked her to go backward.
She didn't need to return to the past.
She had already found her future.
Right here.
With him. 🤍