Even so, doubts clawed at the edges of his mind. She doesn't mean it, he thought bitterly. This was recorded before everything happened, before she knew... before she blamed me.
But as Esme's voice carried on, soft yet unyielding, it felt so achingly real, as if she were speaking directly to him.
For years, everyone had told him it wasn't his fault. For years, those words had felt hollow, meaningless. But now, hearing them from Esme, even through a recording, was different. It cut through the layers of guilt, seeping into the part of him that had longed for her forgiveness.
And yet, that same guilt whispered back, She should've blamed me. She had every right to.
Jay's knees finally gave way, and he sank into the nearest chair, his head in his hands as his shoulders shook. The words he had craved for so long, yet felt undeserving of, echoed in his mind: It's not your fault.
