(I worked on this novel periodically during 2012 and 2013. Nearly all of my short stories were intended to tie in with it. I was around halfway finished when I abandoned it, and writing in general. Recently, I decided that even though it'll never be finished, I put too much thought and effort into the novel to just let it sit on my hard drive forever, so I've decided to publish it in its unfinished state. Some parts work, some parts don't, and some ideas were overly ambitious and complicated, but I think it makes for a decent half of a story, overall. The story reached Chapter Fifteen before I abandoned it).
Prologue
It all began with the death of my father…
When I was a young girl, I used to brag to my friends that my father was the smartest man in the world.
It was only after he died that I realized just how brilliant he truly had been.
For the last several years of his life, he worked on an amazing project: the ultimate audio/visual entertainment synthesizer…the most advanced holographic projector ever created…
Synergy.
And with Synergy's help, Jem was born.
Jem, who sang like an angel.
Jem, who was the sweet natured girl every mother wanted as a daughter; every child wanted as a big sister; every woman wanted as a best friend; every man wanted to marry.
Jem, who stood for fairness, tolerance, and everything that's good in the world.
Jem, who could accomplish anything she set her mind to.
Jem, who lived a constant life of glamour, glitter, fashion, and fame.
Jem, who could always be counted on to do the right thing.
Jem, who bore no baggage and no past to weigh her down.
Jem, who never saw her father in agony as he withered away before her eyes.
Jem, who never saw a yellow plastic sheet placed on her mother's charred corpse as they pulled her from the wreckage of her plane.
Jem, who didn't have to carry the memory of angry words she could never take back.
Jem, who could skip through her days without the burdens of being "Jerrica Benton."
Jem, who was everything I wanted to be.
It felt good to be her, for a little bit.
The longer I could be her, the better I felt.
Why be Jerrica at all, if I could help it?
But my sisters didn't see it that way. They missed Jerrica.
I didn't expect anyone would.
They killed Jem. She disappeared, never to return.
I've been Jerrica Benton ever since: three-time L.A. Businesswoman of the Year; recipient of a lifetime achievement award for my work with foster girls; an aunt and sister and friend.
But I know something no one else knows.
Jem is alive.