As the months passed, Lena found herself caught in a delicate dance between past regrets and future uncertainties. Her relationship with Jace had slowly settled into something more peaceful, but there was always the undercurrent of what had been—what they had done and how it had affected those around them. Clara, though she had started to heal, still carried the weight of that knowledge with her. It was something Lena couldn't ignore, no matter how much she wished for everything to feel "normal" again.
One evening, as Lena sat in the living room reading, she heard the front door creak open. It was Clara, coming home from a late study session with friends. Clara's voice rang out as she stepped inside, but it wasn't the usual upbeat tone that Lena had come to expect. Instead, there was a heaviness to it, a quiet sorrow.
"Hey," Lena called, looking up from her book, trying to read the mood. "How was your night?"
Clara paused in the doorway, her eyes scanning the room before meeting Lena's gaze. "I need to talk," she said, her voice low.
Lena's heart tightened. "Of course. What's going on?"
Clara stepped further into the room, her shoulders slumped, as though the weight of the world had settled there. "I've been thinking a lot about everything," she started, her tone a little hesitant. "About you, about Jace, about... us." She let out a long breath, shaking her head as if trying to find the right words. "I guess I'm just... not sure where I fit anymore."
Lena stood up, feeling an ache in her chest. She walked over to Clara, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Clara, you know that you'll always fit. No matter what. You're my sister, and that means everything to me."
Clara's eyes shimmered with unshed tears, and she blinked them away quickly. "I know you're trying, Lena. But I don't know if I can just forget what happened. It's not about you and Jace—I get it now. But it's about how everything changed, and I don't know how to move forward from that."
Lena's throat constricted as she listened to her sister's words. She had hoped that with time, things would heal, that they would find a way to pick up the pieces and rebuild. But hearing Clara's raw honesty made her realize just how much hurt still lingered beneath the surface.
"I'm so sorry, Clara," Lena whispered, her voice trembling. "I never wanted to hurt you. I've spent so much time trying to fix everything, but I know that doesn't change what's already happened."
Clara nodded slowly, her gaze distant. "I know. I know you didn't mean for it to happen. And I don't want to push you away, but I feel like I've lost something along the way. Like I don't know how to be around you two anymore, without it feeling... off."
Lena's heart ached. She had hoped that by being patient, by giving Clara space, they would eventually find their way back to each other. But perhaps that was an illusion. Perhaps the damage had already been done, and it was only a matter of learning how to live with it.
"I don't want you to feel like that," Lena said, her voice full of sincerity. "But I get it. I do. I think we both need time.