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Novel Catalog
Chapter 12
Eden stood motionless, gazing out the window as the bright lights of the city below flickered in the night. The air felt heavy around her, and memories she’d tried so hard to bury resurfaced with vivid clarity. It had been seven years, but the ache of that night remained, deep and unforgiving. Every time she allowed herself to remember, it was as if the pain sliced through her anew, like a scar that never truly healed.
She placed her hand on the cool glass, as if hoping it would provide some comfort. The cityscape outside was beautiful, but it felt distant, almost surreal, as her thoughts drifted to a time and place that had shaped her life in ways she couldn’t fully explain. The pain was no longer a raw wound—it had become a part of her, an invisible burden that followed her wherever she went.
Her gaze softened slightly as she thought about her children. How had they changed? How much of them was still tied to the past? Henrick, Kenneth, and Gia—they were the light in her life, the reason she fought so fiercely every day. She had never given up on them, just as she never gave up on herself, even when everything seemed lost.
She was also hoping—no, needing—to find the answers to questions that had haunted her for years. Who were her parents? Did they ever think of her? Did they search for her, as she had searched for them, or had they too been swallowed by time and the passage of years?
Her thoughts were interrupted by the soft sound of footsteps from the hallway, a familiar presence. She didn’t need to turn around to know it was Jasper. His presence was like a quiet comfort, a steadying force that had never wavered. He had always been there for her, just as he had promised seven years ago. But even with him around, there was still a part of Eden that felt alone. The unanswered questions about her past loomed large, casting a shadow over the present.
Jasper’s voice came softly from behind her. “Are you okay, Eden?”
She blinked, as if snapping out of a trance, and turned to face him. He was standing by the door, his eyes soft with concern. She gave him a small smile, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes.
“I’m fine,” she said, her voice quiet but steady. “Just… thinking.”
Jasper studied her for a moment, his brow furrowing. He knew her well enough to recognize the signs of her inner turmoil. He stepped closer, his tone gentle. “You’ve been carrying this for so long, Eden. Maybe it’s time to let it go. Whatever happened, whatever you’re holding onto… you don’t have to carry it by yourself.”
Eden let out a soft sigh, her shoulders slumping slightly as if the weight of the world had suddenly settled on them. “I know. But some things… some things are too big to forget. Too important.”
She looked out the window again, her eyes distant, filled with a quiet longing. “I just want to know where I come from. I want to know if they’re looking for me too. Or if they’ve forgotten about me.”
Jasper walked over to her, placing a hand on her shoulder in silent support. He didn’t have the words to ease her pain, but he hoped his presence could offer some comfort, just as it had all those years ago.
“You’re not alone in this,” he said softly. “We’ll find the answers together. Whatever it takes.”
Eden turned to him, her eyes softening as she met his gaze. “Thank you, Jasper. You’ve done so much for me already. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
Jasper smiled faintly, the kind of smile that spoke of years of shared history and trust. “You don’t need to thank me, Eden. You know I’ll always be here for you.”
For a moment, they stood in silence, the city lights casting a soft glow over the room. But the peace was fleeting, as the weight of Eden’s unresolved past lingered in the air, a quiet reminder that some wounds, no matter how much time passes, never fully heal.