Eternal season

d through this same place countless times, but today, she noticed the little details that had once gone unnoticed-the worn cobblestones, the ivy creeping up the walls of the old

sm, one that had been growing wider with every passing day. Finally, Jack looked up, and their eyes met. For a brief moment, nothing seemed to matter. The weight of the past, the mistakes they had both made, the years of separation-all of it faded away as they stood there, facing each other. "Aria," he said softly, his voice filled with a mixture of surprise and something else-regret, perhaps, or longing. "Jack," she whispered, her voice barely audible. They stood there for what felt like an eternity, neither of them moving, neither of them sure what to do next. The world around them seemed to disappear, leaving only the two of them, caught in the echoes of the past. Finally, Jack spoke again, his voice strained. "I didn't expect to see you here." Aria shook her head slowly. "I didn't expect to see you either." The words hung in the air between them, a delicate tension that neither of them seemed ready to break. Aria's mind was a whirlwind of emotions-anger, sadness, confusion, and a deep, aching desire for closure. But most of all, there was a quiet fear. Fear of what this meeting meant, of what it could lead to. "What are you doing here?" she asked, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside her. Jack looked at her for a long moment, his expression unreadable. "I've been traveling. A lot of places, a lot of time spent figuring things out." Aria couldn't help but feel a twinge of bitterness at his words. Had he truly been figuring things out, or had he just been running from the truth? "I thought you were done with all of this," Aria said quietly, her gaze fixed on the floor. "With me. With everything." Jack flinched at her words, and Aria could feel the sting of truth in them. It had been a long time since they had spoken, but the hurt was still fresh. He had left her behind without a word, without an explanation. And now, here he was, standing before her like nothing had changed. "I'm sorry," Jack said, his voice thick with regret. "I know I didn't handle things well. I never meant to hurt you." Aria's heart twisted at his words, but there was no anger in her anymore, only exhaustion.