Jack went still. Claire swallowed once. Then, quieter, she said, “She was gone.” Jack didn’t move. “And you were still waiting for her,” Claire said. “Still living around her. Still leaving space for her like she was going to walk back through the door one day.” Jack felt his hands curl into fists. “That wasn’t yours to take.” Claire laughed once, bitter and small.
“No?” she said. “I followed the case, Jack. I know what happened to you. I know what you went through. I watched all of it.” Jack stared at her. “You were alone,” she said. “Eli was growing up without a mother. You were both just… stuck.” Her voice sharpened. “And she was gone. She left all of this behind and you were still acting like no one else could ever step into the space she left.”