The night air was thick with the scent of rain and hope as Jalen walked the familiar path to his mother's house. The streetlights flickered overhead, casting long shadows that danced like memories. Every step felt heavier and lighter all at once.
When he reached the porch, Maya was already there, hands tucked into her jacket pockets, eyes guarded but soft.
"Hey," she said quietly.
"Hey," he replied, unsure where to start or if this conversation would mend or break more.
They stood in silence before Maya finally spoke.
"I was angry. Hurt. I felt betrayed," she admitted, voice trembling. "But I see now… you had to speak. For all of us."
Jalen nodded. "I wanted to protect you. Protect us. But silence wasn't protection."
She sighed, then smiled faintly. "Maybe it's time we stop running from what's broken and start fixing it—together."
He reached out, and for the first time in weeks, they embraced.
Inside the house, their mother watched from the doorway, tears glistening.
The blood that stained their past wouldn't erase their future—not if they chose to build bridges instead of walls.