Jasper stood motionless at the edge of a frozen lake, the aurora borealis casting ghostly hues across the snow. The emotions of his family swirled in his mind: Rosalie’s fury, Emmett’s frustration, Alice’s guilt, Edward’s self-loathing. Each one clawed at his control, amplifying the guilt he already carried. His golden eyes traced the icy expanse, seeking solace but finding none. “Maybe I need to walk away,” he muttered, the words vaporizing into the cold air. The stillness mocked him, a reminder that even in isolation, he couldn’t escape the weight of his gift—or the consequences of their fractured unity.