The Outskirts

“How… how do you know her name?” He scratched the back of his neck, the sudden discomfort evident in his posture.

“You were sleeptalking,” she replied, her voice barely louder than a whisper, yet her words felt like a thunderclap in the quiet moment.

Jayden’s hand fell to his side as his gaze drifted upward, his eyes searching the sky for answers. “Rose is… she’s…” His words lost, his voice cracking under the weight of unspoken emotions. A strange, almost regretful smile curved his lips, but his eyes betrayed him, brimming with emptiness and loss. He exhaled deeply, the sound heavy with resignation.

Swan lowered her gaze, her own uncertainty mirrored his. “I understand if you don’t want to talk about her,” she murmured, her eyes fixed on the ground as though it might offer her some clarity.