Secrets

Jaden paced the length of his quarters, shadows swirling restlessly around him. The encounter with his alternate self had left him shaken, burdened with knowledge he wasn't sure he was ready to bear. The weight of potential futures pressed down on him, each decision now carrying the gravity of multiversal consequences.

A soft knock at the door broke his reverie. "Jaden?" Zoe's voice called from the other side. "Can we talk?"

He hesitated for a moment before answering. "Come in."

Zoe entered, her usual confidence tempered by obvious concern. She studied Jaden's face, noting the dark circles under his eyes and the tension in his jaw. "You look like hell," she said bluntly.

Jaden managed a weak smile. "Thanks. You always know just what to say."

"Cut the crap, shadow boy," Zoe said, her tone softening. "What's eating you? And don't say 'nothing.' We both know that's bullshit."

Jaden sighed, running a hand through his hair. "It's... it's the rift incident. The micro-rift I created. I can't