Jacob finally took a seat adjacent to Nida. Forever had passed but he felt the same comfort that he had cultivated over the months he'd lived in the city before his disappearance. It wouldn't be the same but it was nice to have someone with who he could talk openly.

Even if that open conversation hurt.

"Of course not." He dropped his head into his palms as if the motion was one he'd done a thousand times. "I had everything planned out but..." He had taken a chance and it'd hurt someone he cared about. "I didn't want that. I still don't." Jacob hadn't been in the city long enough to consider everything but Yuki had been at the forefront of his mind. He didn't want someone he cared about to feel the heartache of someone disappearing.

Jacob knew how painful that could be.

"Maybe seeing me won't help him. If he's doing better and happy." That was always his first priority, other people's happiness.