Days turned into weeks, and Jaden found himself stuck in a loop of his own making. The kush wasn’t enough anymore, and the cranberry juice didn’t bring the same comfort it once had. His life had become a series of rituals, but none of them were helping him find the peace he needed.

One morning, after a restless night, Jaden woke up and realized something. It wasn’t the kush or the juice that had been his escape—it was the act of letting go. Maya had tried to show him that. She had tried to teach him that the world wasn’t something to hide from, but something to live in, even if it was messy.

Jaden didn’t reach for the kush that morning. Instead, he stood up, walked to the window, and looked out at the city. For the first time in a long while, he didn’t feel like an outsider looking in. He was part of it all—the noise, the chaos, the beauty. It was overwhelming, yes, but it was also real.

Later that day, Maya called. “Hey,” she said, her voice warm. “You good?”

Jaden smiled. “Yeah,” he said. “I think I’m finally starting to get it.”