The shift in his relationship with Maya left Jaden conflicted. He had always relied on her energy to keep him moving forward, but now he found himself feeling like an outsider in his own life. It wasn’t her fault; it was his. He had been leaning on her, waiting for her to carry him when he needed to carry himself.

One night, after a quiet dinner and more awkward silence than either of them could handle, Maya stood up and said, “Maybe this is it for now, Jaden. We need space.”

Jaden didn’t argue. He understood. Their paths had diverged, and as much as he didn’t want to admit it, he wasn’t ready for the kind of change she was already embracing. They hugged briefly, and Maya left. The door closed behind her, and Jaden was left alone, feeling the weight of the emptiness fill the room.