Run: 2026-02-17-01KHMMDMQK5HYFRW7NQF4W7PXJ

The green neon sign above the entrance flickered, casting an uneven glow over the worn brick façade. Aurora glanced up at it, squinting as she massaged the small crescent-shaped scar on her left wrist, a habit she'd never quite managed to break. "The Raven's Nest," she murmured to herself, her bright blue eyes scanning the old maps and black-and-white photographs that adorned the walls, a testament to the bar's storied past. It had been years since she last set foot in this place, years since she fled Cardiff and the memories that threatened to drown her. Upon entering, Aurora's senses were immediately inundated with the familiar scents of aged wood, stale tobacco, and cheap whiskey. The dim lighting and hushed conversations enveloped her like a warm, if not slightly suffocating, embrace. As her eyes adjusted to the gloom, she spotted Silas behind the bar, his neatly trimmed grey-streaked auburn beard matching the hair that receded from his forehead. He looked older, more tired, but his hazel eyes still held that glint of quiet authority. Aurora felt a flicker of apprehension as she approached, unsure of how he would react to seeing her after all this time. She needn't have worried. Silas's face broke into a wide grin as he recognized her, and he reached for a bottle of her favorite whiskey, pouring two fingers into a glass before sliding it across the bar to her. "Rory Carter," he said, his voice low and gravelly, "I thought you'd forgotten about this old place." Aurora returned his smile, relief washing over her as she grasped the glass, the amber liquid warming her fingers. "Not likely, Si. Not likely." She took a sip, savoring the familiar burn as it traveled down her throat. As the night wore on, the bar began to fill with the usual assortment of patrons - lonely hearts nursing their sorrows, groups of friends celebrating a recent promotion or commiserating over a failed relationship. Aurora watched them all, her bright blue eyes taking in every detail, every nuance of their interactions. It was then that she saw him, or rather, the back of his head as he leaned against the wall, his shoulders hunched over his drink. Evan. Her heart seized in her chest, and she felt the sudden urge to flee, to run as far and as fast as she could from this place, from him. But her legs wouldn't cooperate, rooted to the spot by some unseen force. It was Silas who broke the spell, his gentle touch on her arm pulling her back to reality. "Rory," he said, his voice laced with concern, "what is it?" Aurora took a deep, shuddering breath, her eyes never leaving the back of Evan's head. "I didn't know he'd be here," she whispered, her voice trembling slightly. "I hasn't seen him in years." Silas's eyes narrowed as he followed her gaze, his jaw clenching as he took in the sight of the man who had caused Aurora so much pain. "You don't have to talk to him, Rory," he said, his voice low and comforting. "You can stay here, with me." But Aurora knew she couldn't avoid Evan forever, not if she wanted to move on with her life. She needed closure, needed to face the demons of her past and lay them to rest once and for all. She straightened her shoulders, downing the last of her whiskey before setting the glass back on the bar. "No," she said, her voice stronger now, "it's time." Silas nodded, his hand squeezing her arm once in silent support before letting her go. Aurora made her way through the crowd, her heart pounding in her ears, her palms slick with sweat. As she approached Evan, she realized that he hadn't changed much in the years since she'd last seen him. His hair was perhaps a bit thinner, his face a bit more lined, but he still had that same arrogant tilt to his chin, that same cruel curve to his lips. "Evan," she said, her voice steady and clear. He turned, his eyes widening in shock as he took in the sight of her. "Aurora," he breathed, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "I never thought I'd see you again." Aurora felt her anger rising, the old wounds resurfacing as she looked at him. "Is that all you have to say to me?" she asked, her voice dripping with disdain. "After everything you did, after everything you put me through?" Evan's smile faltered, and he had the decency to look ashamed. "Rory," he said, his voice taking on a pleading edge, "I was never good enough for you, I know that now. But I've changed, I swear it." But Aurora was not interested in his apologies, his excuses. She had spent too long trying to forget the past, trying to forget him. "You don't get to change the narrative, Evan," she said, her voice low and dangerous. "You don't get to rewrite history and make yourself the hero of this story." And with that, she turned on her heel and walked away, leaving Evan to stare after her, his face a mask of shock and regret. She returned to Silas, who was watching her with a mixture of worry and pride. She sank onto the barstool beside him, her heart still racing, her hands still shaking. "Well?" Silas asked, his voice gentle. Aurora took a moment to catch her breath, to gather her thoughts. "It's over," she said finally, her voice filled with a quiet certainty. "It's finally over." Silas nodded, his hand finding hers beneath the bar and squeezing it tightly. "I'm proud of you, Rory," he said, his voice warm and sincere. "I always have been." Aurora felt tears pricking at the corners of her eyes, and she blinked them away quickly, not wanting to ruin this moment with sentiment. She grinned at Silas, her bright blue eyes sparkling with mischief. "So," she said, her voice light and teasing, "about that drink you owes me . . ." Silas laughed, shaking his head as he reached for the bottle of whiskey once more. "You never change, do you, Carter?" Aurora raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing at the corners of her lips. "Not a chance, Si," she said, raising her glass in a toast. "Not a chance." And with that, the two old friends settled in for the night, their laughter and conversation filling the corners of the dimly lit bar, chasing away the shadows of the past and welcoming the promise of a new dawn.