Lena's heart still ached with the uncertainty that came with every choice they made, but in those moments of quiet connection, she realized that love was not something to be feared—it was something to be embraced. And even if it had caused pain and fractures along the way, it had also led them to a place where they could start healing.
As summer wore on, Lena found herself at peace with the journey she had taken, even though the road had been anything but smooth. She knew the scars would remain—both in her relationship with Clara and in her relationship with Jace—but they had proven that it was possible to grow from the broken pieces.
One evening, as they sat together on the porch, watching the sun dip below the horizon, Lena felt a sense of gratitude for the people in her life. The love she shared with Jace, the forgiveness from Clara—it wasn't perfect, but it was real. And in that moment, that was enough.
"I'm glad we're here," Lena said softly, her voice filled with warmth. "All of us."
Jace smiled, squeezing her hand. "Yeah. Me too."
And for the first time in a long while, Lena believed that despite everything they had been through, they had found their way back to each other—not to what they had before, but to something even more valuable. A new beginning.