Shades of Desire

Epilogue- Jace

I drove. Fast. Away from everything. From the city, from the mess I caused, and most of all, from her.

Ivy.

I should've turned back. I should've gone back for her. But I didn't. I couldn't. Instead, I left her there—cold, alone, and barely holding on.

What kind of person does that?

I grip the wheel tighter as I remember her face. The way she looked at me, pleading. Her eyes, full of trust, even when everything was crumbling around us. She needed me, and I walked away.

The guilt hits me like a punch to the gut. I thought leaving would make it easier. But it didn't. It made it worse. Every mile feels heavier, dragging me down deeper into this pit of regret I can't crawl out of.

She could be gone. For good. And it's all my fault.

I swerve off the highway and slam the brakes, dust kicking up around the car as I come to a stop. My hands are shaking, but I can't move. Can't think. The world feels like it's closing in, and all I can see is her—lying there, broken, and I wasn't there to save her.

I should've been.

I step out of the car, the night air biting at my skin. I don't care. I deserve this. I deserve worse. I stare at the empty road stretching out before me, my chest tightening. I ran from everything—like I always do. But this time, I ran from her. From the one person who ever gave a damn about me.

And I left her to die.

The wind howls around me, but it's nothing compared to the storm raging inside. I let my back hit the side of the car, sinking to the ground. My hands dig into the dirt, like I could somehow claw my way out of this hell I've created. But I can't.

I left Ivy to die. And I might never know if she made it.

I close my eyes, forcing myself to relive the moment. The crash. The blood. Her face. She whispered my name, barely able to speak, and what did I do? I turned my back and ran. I told myself she'd be fine. That someone else would come. But that's a lie. I know it. And now, it's too late to fix it.

Ethan. He's probably with her now, holding her, saving her. Doing what I couldn't. What I was too weak to do. He was always the one who could save her—always better for her than I was.

I push myself off the ground, staring into the distance. I could go back. I could find her. But what would that change? Nothing. I'm not the hero in her story. I'm the one who ran away, leaving her to fight for her life.

Maybe she's better off without me.

I exhale, the air cold in my lungs, and climb back into the car. I turn the key, but for a moment, I don't drive. I just sit there, the engine rumbling beneath me, and all I can think is that I don't deserve to move on. Not after what I did.

But I know one thing.

No matter how far I run, I'll never escape what I did to Ivy.