Jack’s steps carried him along the winding path, the sunlight growing warmer with every step. The world around him felt brighter, more alive than he remembered. The leaves overhead shimmered with a golden hue, and the air was rich with the scent of earth and fresh rain.

  He didn’t know where the path would lead, but for the first time in what felt like years, he didn’t care. The tension that had gripped his chest for so long was gone, replaced by a quiet determination.

  The ticket in his hand remained warm, its faint glow a comforting reminder of how far he had come. Though the word "Free" no longer shimmered with the same ethereal light, its presence felt grounding, like a compass guiding him forward.

  As he rounded a bend in the path, the sound of distant laughter reached his ears.

  Jack quickened his pace, his pulse quickening with cautious hope. The path widened, opening onto a bustling park filled with people. Families picnicked on the grass, children chased each other beneath the shade of towering trees, and joggers passed by with friendly nods.

  It was ordinary, blissfully so.

  Jack stepped onto the soft grass, his eyes scanning the vibrant scene. Everything felt real—the warmth of the sun, the rustling of the leaves, the hum of life all around him.

  For a moment, he stood frozen, unsure if he could trust what he was seeing. The memories of the Terminal still lingered, their edges sharp and raw. But the longer he stood there, the more the doubt began to fade.

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  “Hey, mate!”

  The voice startled him, and Jack turned to see a man jogging toward him. He was dressed in athletic gear, a friendly grin on his face.

  “You all right?” the man asked, slowing to a stop. “You look a bit lost.”

  Jack hesitated, his words catching in his throat. “I... I’m fine,” he said finally, his voice shaky but steady.

  The jogger nodded, his grin widening. “Good to hear. Beautiful day, isn’t it?”

  Jack managed a small smile. “Yeah,” he said. “It is.”

  The man gave him a wave and continued on his way, leaving Jack standing alone in the middle of the park.

  He let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. The brief interaction felt surreal, a jarring reminder of the normalcy he had left behind.

  Jack turned his gaze to the sky, its deep blue expanse stretching endlessly above him. The weight that had once pressed against his chest was gone, replaced by a quiet sense of clarity.

  He thought of Emily—her voice, her warmth, the bittersweet moment they had shared on the bench. Her final words echoed in his mind:

  “You can’t change the past, but you can move forward.”

  Jack’s grip on the ticket tightened, and he looked down at it one last time. The word "Free" seemed to smile back at him, the faint glow a quiet affirmation.

  With a deep breath, Jack folded the ticket and slipped it into his pocket.

  The path stretched ahead of him, weaving through the park and into the city beyond. Jack began to walk, his pace steady and purposeful.

  As he reached the edge of the park, the sound of the city welcomed him back—car horns, the murmur of voices, the rhythmic clatter of trains in the distance.

  He stepped onto the pavement, blending into the flow of people moving through the bustling streets. The world was vibrant, chaotic, and alive.

  And for the first time in a long time, Jack felt alive too.