**Chapter 3: Aftershocks**

The room was still reeling from Jason's revelation, with some of his friends struggling to come to terms with the magnitude of what he had endured. As the debate about what to do next continued, Ron held Jason tightly, trying to shield him from the chaos. Jason's sobs slowly began to subside, replaced by ragged gasps for air as he clung to Ron. Lacy, Adapt, and Silky gathered around them, forming a tight circle of support. Lacy gently stroked Jason's hair, trying to offer what little comfort he could. "We're here for you, Jason. We're not going anywhere." Adapt nodded in agreement, her eyes welling up with tears. Silky simply looked like he was about to collapse, his face ashen. As the minutes ticked by, the arguing slowly died down, replaced by a somber silence. Max, still seated across from them, looked like he was seething with anger. Rage, similarly, was fuming, his eyes blazing with a fierce determination. The two of them exchanged a look, and without a word, they seemed to come to an understanding. Ron, sensing that Jason was slowly calming down, gently eased him back to look at his face. Jason's eyes were red and puffy from crying, but he managed a weak smile. "Thanks, Ron," he whispered, his voice hoarse from sobbing. The room remained still, with everyone waiting for Jason to give some indication of what he wanted to do next. Finally, he took a deep breath and spoke, his voice a little stronger now. "I... I don't know what to do. I feel like I've been living in a nightmare for years." Lacy nodded sympathetically. "We'll figure it out together, Jason. You're not alone anymore." The others nodded in agreement, their faces set with determination. As if on cue, the doorbell rang, breaking the tense silence. Ron frowned, wondering who could be visiting at such an awkward moment. He got up to answer it, leaving Jason surrounded by his friends. The door creaked open to reveal a worried-looking Mrs. Jenkins, Jason's mother. "I was starting to get worried. Jason didn't come home from school, and his father said he was with you all. Is everything okay?" Ron hesitated, unsure of how to respond. He glanced back at Jason, who was watching him with a mixture of fear and anxiety. Ron knew that he couldn't lie to Mrs. Jenkins, but he also didn't want to upset Jason further. "Can we talk about this inside?" Ron asked, stepping aside to let Mrs. Jenkins in. As she entered, her eyes scanned the room, taking in the somber faces and Jason's tear-stained cheeks. "What's going on?" she asked, her voice laced with concern. Jason's eyes dropped, and he mumbled, "I... I told them." The words hung in the air, heavy with significance. Mrs. Jenkins's expression changed from worry to shock, and for a moment, she simply stared at Jason, as if unsure of what to say or do next. Then, her face crumpled, and she rushed over to her son, enveloping him in a tight hug. "Oh, baby, I'm so sorry. I had no idea. I'm so, so sorry," she whispered, her voice cracking with emotion. As the room watched, a mixture of emotions played out before their eyes. Jason, still shaken, was finally getting the support and love he had been craving for so long. But as his mother's tears fell onto his shoulders, it was clear that this was just the beginning of a long and difficult journey towards healing.