The Reunion

Leanna wasted no time heading straight to the Olympic Village, where a press event was taking place. Athletes from all over the world were giving interviews, and security was tight. She lingered in the crowd, watching for Jessica Sanchez, the woman who had once been Jess.

Then, she saw her.

Jessica stood among a group of reporters, answering questions with practiced ease. She was composed, her posture effortless, her expression unreadable. Leanna's heart pounded. She had to get closer.

Slipping through the crowd, Leanna edged toward the front. When Jessica finished speaking to the press, Leanna seized the opportunity and stepped forward.

"Jess—"

Jessica turned to her with an unreadable expression. "I’m sorry? Do I know you?"

Leanna froze. "It’s me. It’s—"

Jessica shook her head with a polite but distant smile. "I think you have me confused with someone else."

Leanna felt the sting of rejection, but something in Jessica’s eyes told her this wasn’t a complete dismissal. As Jessica turned to leave, she subtly murmured, "Meet me at the Griffith Observatory tonight. Midnight."

Leanna barely had time to process the words before Jessica disappeared into the crowd.

******************************

That night, Leanna arrived at the Griffith Observatory, the city sprawled out below like a sea of glowing embers. She spotted Jessica leaning against the railing, arms crossed, waiting.

Leanna approached cautiously. "You remembered me."

Jessica turned, expression softer now. "Of course I did. But I couldn’t risk it back there. Cameras, reporters… I couldn’t let them connect me to my past."

Leanna sighed, taking in the sight of her—older, more refined, but still Jess beneath it all. "Why, Jess? Why did you never come back?"

Jessica’s gaze shifted to the cityscape below. "Because I had to become someone else. Jason Carter died a long time ago, and Jess had to disappear with him."

Leanna frowned. "You just walked away? No goodbye? No way for any of us to know?"

Jessica sighed. "I thought about it. A hundred times. But what was I supposed to say? ‘Hey guys, I’m entering witness protection, see you never’? I didn’t have a choice, Leanna."

Leanna’s throat tightened. "I never stopped looking for you. I couldn’t let it go."

Jessica crossed her arms. "And why not? The others did. They moved on. Why couldn’t you?"

Leanna exhaled sharply. "Because I owed it to you. Because I—" She hesitated, then shook her head. "Because I never stopped caring."

Jessica looked at her for a long moment, then her expression softened slightly. "Neither did I. I just… had to keep going."

A brief silence stretched between them before Jessica asked, "What about the others? Ryan? Olivia? Are they okay?"

Leanna nodded. "They’re fine. Ryan’s in Europe, Kevin and Olivia are building their careers, Hannah’s doing event planning… Everyone tried to move on. Some better than others."

Jessica smiled faintly at that but then grew serious. "And you?"

Leanna hesitated. "Still following leads. Still trying to understand what Vanguard was really doing. I guess you could say I never let it go."

Jessica’s jaw tightened. "You should have."

Leanna took a step forward. "We need to talk. About Vanguard, about everything. There’s still unfinished business."

Jessica shook her head. "No. I buried that part of my life. I’m not going back."

Leanna met her gaze. "You might not have a choice. They never really let you go."

Jessica exhaled sharply, looking away. "Damn it, Leanna…"

"Please, Jess," Leanna pressed. "At least hear me out."

Jessica was silent for a long moment before finally whispering, "Fine. But after this… I’m done."

Leanna didn’t believe that for a second.