No one spoke.
I stepped forward.
"I hurt people I care about. I scared the ones who tried to help me. I turned my back on the only ones who could've saved me from myself."
I looked at Zaara.
"I'm sorry for what happened. I don't expect forgiveness."
I looked at Carter.
"I'm sorry I disappeared when you needed someone in your corner."
Then I looked down at unconscious Jojo.
"And Jojo…"
I choked up.
"She saved me. When no one else believed I could be saved, she did. She reached in and pulled me back when I was too far gone to care. And now…"
My voice faltered.
"She might not make it because of me."
Silence.
I looked up.
"I remember everything now. And the truth? It hurts. It's killing me."
I exhaled.
"But I'm not asking for redemption. I'm not asking for a reset."
I clenched my fists.
"I'm not who I was," I said quietly. "And I don't know if I ever will be again. But I want to be someone better. Someone Jojo wouldn't be ashamed to call a friend."
