Neither Jessie nor Karen had any idea how long they sat like that. They just sat there crying into each other's shoulders. Karen felt Jessie's body stop shaking and her breathing slow. Her legs were starting to go numb, so she lowered herself and her daughter to a laying position. Jessie hadn't let go of her, but she relaxed and Karen was able to breathe properly again.

She was lying there, studying her daughter's tear-stained face. It killed her to see that angelic face cloud over. It killed her even more to know that she was the cause of it. All of these thoughts led to another burning question. What could she possibly be sorry about? All Karen knew was that she had to wait for Jessie to wake up to ask. Karen wasn't about to wake up her daughter that obviously hadn't slept well in the last twenty-four hours.

"Jessie, how could you let this happen?" Karen asked Jessie. Karen stared at Jessie with a look full of disappointment and anger. "You should have been there. Why didn't you stop me?"

"Mom, I...I couldn't. I was-"

"Couldn't? More like wouldn't," her anger turned to sadness. "Don't you love me Jessie? You couldn't be there for me. When I needed you the most, you left me."

"No. I tried." Jessie sank down to her knees and started crying. She looked up with red, puffy eyes.

Jessie was turning and mumbling. Karen held her close to prevent her from falling. "Jessie." She whispered.

Karen bent down, she cupped Jessie's face in her hands. Jessie covered her mother's hands with her own. Karen leaned into her ear and whispered, "Jessie."

"Yes," Jessie squeaked out through her tears.

"No," Karen replied. Jessie looked up, still holding Karen's hands to her face, she gave her a look of total bewilderment. "I can't forgive you," she whispered softly.

"Why not?" Jessie choked out, more tears falling.

"Because," she began slowly, "it's already too late." Her soft comforting smile turned into a menacing scowl. Her warm, gentle hands caressing Jessie's face became cold.

"How? Too late for what?" She questioned, reluctantly pulling away.

Jessie was crying and sobbing into Karen's shoulder. She was drenched in sweat and mumbling gibberish into Karen's shoulder. Her grip was tightening, then loosening repeatedly. "Jessie," she tried again. It didn't work, Jessie was already in it too deep.

"Everything. It's too late for everything," Karen stated, letting go of her daughter. "Want to know the worst part?" She asked, not really expecting an answer. "It's all your fault."

"What?" Jessie whispered, too choked up to utter anything else to the contrary.

"It's all your fault," Karen repeated, almost in a singsong tone, mocking Jessie's torn expression.

Jessie wouldn't object. She knew her mother was right. Was...is always right. Jessie's pleading eyes bore no sympathy. "Please, stop."

"Why? You didn't help me. You let me down," she said, Jessie's eyes welled up at the cold nature of this...this stranger. "You let me down, again."

"No!" Jessie bolted up and started screaming. Karen sat up too, terrified by her daughter.

Karen held her daughter, trying to comfort her. Jessie clenched onto her mother, crying relentlessly into her arms. "Honey, it's okay. It was only a dream."

"Mom, I am so sorry," she cried into Karen's arms. It was barely audible, but Karen understood.

This is it. She breathed in, "What are you sorry for, sweetie?"

Jessie's body stiffened. She gripped onto Karen for dear life it seemed. Fresh tears made their way down her face. Drying her eyes on her mother's gown, she bunged up some of the gown's material. "I let you down," she barely managed to get the words out.

Karen certainly didn't expect that. She was at a loss. "Uh...I...How could...Jessie, I love you. You couldn't possibly let me down. How could...How could you even think that?" She was torn. I am a bad mother. How could I let her believe that?

"I should have been there. I knew something was wrong. I could have stopped it, and...and I didn't," she choked out.

"No, Jess, this is not your fault," Karen stated. Jessie couldn't look at her. Karen put her hands on each side of Jessie's face. She made her look into her eyes. "Now look at me Jess," she said sternly. "This is not your fault, okay? Nobody could have prevented this. It was an accident." She searched Jessie's eyes. It tore her apart. All she saw was pain, regret, guilt and a thousand other emotions tormenting those soulful gray eyes.

No matter how many times Karen said it, Jessie still believed that she could have, should have, done something. She took hold of her mother's hands and brought them down to rest at her sides. Then, she shook her head. "I'm sorry."

"Stop saying that Jess," Karen pleaded. "There is nothing you could have done. It was an accident."

She couldn't take it anymore. "You tried to kill yourself, mom!" Karen was taken aback. Jessie jumped out of the hospital bed and out of her mom's arms.

"Jessie," Karen pleaded.

"No! I could have done something. Maybe if I hadn't ignored you. Or if maybe I had actually been there." She looked at her mom's expression. "I knew something was wrong yesterday, I felt it. I felt it and I did nothing. I did nothing, mom! And I knew. I knew." She turned away, she couldn't look at that face. Jessie couldn't look into the face of the person she betrayed. Karen looked at her daughter. She couldn't believe Jessie felt this way. "God," Jessie said incredulously. "What kind of person am I?" She still hadn't turned around. "What kind of person stands by and watches as the person they love is drowning in their own life?" She turned around to face Karen, Jessie's face bore the expression of someone who honestly believes that they don't deserve to live. "Huh?" She asked Karen. "How could I do that? I just let you become miserable with yourself, your life. That is not what a daughter should do. I should have been there for you. You needed me Mom. You needed me and I let you down."

"Jessie, no," Karen faltered after rediscovering her voice. "No, you didn't let me down. That would be impossible." Karen gave a slight smile through her tears. Jessie, however, didn't reciprocate.

"Mom, I didn't help you. I should have. I was too afraid...and selfish," she hung her head, missing Karen's stunned expression. Jessie looked up. "I was afraid to help because I thought I would make it worse. I was selfish because I was afraid to help."

There were no words to describe the emotions that came crashing over Karen like a tidal wave. She was covered by a wave of overwhelming love. "Jessie, oh God. I love you so much." Jessie came over and the two embraced. Karen pulled away slightly and started to cover her daughter's forehead in kisses.

"Jessie!" Lily yelled from halfway down the hall. Where the hell is room 329? Oh, here we go. "Jess?" She knocked slightly on the door before pushing it open.

"What?" Jessie grunted from her position in her mother's embrace. Karen looked at Jessie, then at Lily. She tried, and failed, to hide her amused look at Jessie's frustration at Lily.

"Uh, Karen, hi!" Lily smiled sheepishly, not realizing she was awake. She turned to Jessie, "Jess, we, uh, need to go. It's almost seven and your dad just called." Lily indicated to her cell phone. Jessie just shook her head and buried it into her mother's shoulder. Lily turned to Karen, her eyes begging for her to help her out. Karen shrugged, looked at her daughter and smiled.

"Jess," she whispered stern, but affectionately, "You should probably get going." Jessie looked up at her with a painful expression. "It's okay honey. I'll see you tomorrow." Jessie held the expression. That didn't work. Karen smiled, "They're letting me go this weekend, Friday." This earned her a small, forced smile. Karen decided just to let it go. "Bye sweetie, I'll see you tomorrow."

Begrudgingly, Jessie untangled herself from Karen's arms. She kissed her mom's forehead and gave her a sad smile before walking off. Lily just watched the exchange. Nice. Break up a nice family moment. I think I'll go kick some puppies now. She followed Jessie out, smiled at Karen and rolled her eyes at her stupidity. Just had to push the 'Let's go' thing, didn't you?

They left and Karen was left alone with her thoughts. I hope Jessie will be all right. She sighed and turned back to the TV, still not even watching.

"Hey Jess," Grace greeted from the living room. She turned around to see Jessie just looking at her.

Jessie heard her, but didn't feel like talking. She faked a smile at Grace, then she turned to Lily. "I'm really tired. I think I'm going to just go to bed." Again, she faked a smile, it hurt her to even try. Then she turned and started to the stairs.

"Are you sure Jess? Are you hungry?" She pestered. Jessie shook her head 'no', but didn't turn around, she was about to cry again. "I could make you something." Jessie shook her head with vehemence. "Jess, are you feeling okay?"

Grace just watched, she wanted to bitch-slap her mother for harassing Jessie like that when she knew full well that Jessie wasn't feeling all right. Mom, please just shut up. She continued to watch as her mother kept trying to pigeon-hole her. "Jess?" Lily walked over to Jessie and tried to put her hand on her shoulder. However, Jessie sensed it and moved away before it could happen.

Talking slowly to keep her voice steady, "Don't touch me," Jessie said in a threatening tone. She stalked upstairs and shouted, "Leave me alone!" She then slammed her door shut.

"Jess," Grace knocked lightly on the door. "Can I come up?" She stood there a moment waiting for an answer. "Jess?"

"Fine! God, coronary much?" She grumped on her way down the steps. Grace waited patiently for Jessie to unlock the door. She never knew Jessie to lock it before. "Well? What do you want?"

Grace looked at Jessie, she had been crying. "Can we just talk?"

Oh no! What the hell does she want to talk about? She looked at Grace. "Sure," she mumbled and cleared the way for Grace to enter. Once she was on her way up, Jessie shut the door. Then, she proceeded to follow up the steps. "Well?" Jessie asked impatiently, crossing her arms.

"I...um...well. I wanted to see how you were doing," Grace lied. There was more to it than that, but this was a good start.

"Fabulous. Can't you tell?" Jessie stated sarcastically, rolling her eyes. Then she looked at Grace. Her expression softened at the sincere expression looking back at her. She let her arms fall to her sides. "Why do you care anyway?" Jessie sighed.

Grace now had a disbelieving look to her. "You're kidding, right?" Judging by the look you're giving me, I guess not. "I'm worried about you. With everything going on, I know that this has to be hard for you."

Jessie stood there. "What do you mean 'everything'? There's not all that much going on." The nonchalant sound wasn't all too convincing, especially to Grace.

"Jessie, your mom is in a coma. That isn't exactly what I call 'nothing'!" Grace shouted.

Jessie looked at her and shook her head. "She woke up today. She's fine. She's coming home in two days. Everything will be fine," she said the last part slowly. It won't be fine. Jessie looked at Grace, hiding the fear in her eyes.

"She woke up?" Grace replied uncertainly. Jessie just nodded and plastered a false grin on her face. If she woke up, why is Jessie still sad? Grace said reluctantly, "Okay." She started to walk off.

Jessie let out a sigh of relief. Then, Grace turned around, "Oh, Jess," she started, "Are you coming down for dinner?"

Jessie cringed. "No. I'm just really tired," she yawned for emphasis. Grace nodded and went back downstairs. Grace felt no more satisfied than when she went down. In fact, she was more positive now that something was wrong.

Beep! Beep! Beep! Wham! Jessie's alarm hit the floor. Hard. She glanced at her watch from under the covers. Figures. Soon as I get to sleep, the damn thing has to go off. Her head popped up from under the blankets, she squinted at the light in her eyes. Morning again, yay. She fell out of her bed and landed with a thump. "Oww." Jessie got into a sitting position, rubbing her head. Then she began to get ready for school.

She was slowly making her way down the stairs, dragging her book bag and letting it hit every step with a thud. Upon hearing this, Lily greeted her. "Morning Jess. You sleep well?"

"Shoot me now," Jessie mumbled in response deciding Lily was too chipper for her taste. She looked at her while dragging herself, and her bag, to the table. Upon plopping herself across from Grace and Zoe, she banged her head against the table. Then she rested her head on her arms.

Zoe mouthed a 'Whoa' at her sister. Lily looked at the plate of food she prepared, then she looked at Jessie. She opted against asking today.

Grace was about to say something, but Jessie raised her head to look at her watch. Then she got up and slumped to the door. She mumbled something that sounded like 'Goodbye', but nobody could make it out.

The front door slammed. Grace declared, "This is bad." Everyone else just nodded in agreement.

The ride to therapy was fairly uneventful. Jessie stared out the window. Grace occasionally glanced at Jessie. It was a good day for Grace, she decided to try out for the school play, "As You Like It". She was happy, but, instead of gloating about it, she held it in. I'll tell Mom when I get back. A grin spread over her face. Jessie continued staring out the window.

"So Jess, how's it going?" Dr. Rosenfeld had a big smile on his face. He was trying to cheer up the obviously upset Jessie. However, the family failed to inform him of the accident.

Jessie didn't smile back. "Mom tried to kill herself." The man didn't expect this, his face fell. This was the first time she saw him shocked about anything, it wasn't to comforting. She redirected her eyes downward.

"Jessie, what happened?" He asked, it obviously deeply impacted her.

"She overdosed. I found her in her room Tuesday night," her voice began to crack. "It was my fault," she stated very matter-of-factly.

Dr. Rosenfeld didn't buy that for one second. "You know full well that that isn't true." It was terrible to see her like this, but, he'd seen it a million times. A kid's parent tries to kill them self, the kid always feels it's their fault. He sighed.

"Isn't it? I knew something was wrong. I felt it all day and I did nothing!" She spouted out in one breath. At this point, she was ready to drop the subject. She inhaled deeply. "I got an A on my biology test," she offered, not looking up.

"Jessie," he drew out her name firmly.

"What?" She asked harshly.

He looked at her and gave up. It was evident that she wasn't going to say anything more about it. "Was it hard?" He relented. She shook her head 'no' and turned toward the window.

The rest of the session went by with hardly another word spoken. Her eyes told him all he needed to know. She was depressed.

"Hey Jessie!" Karen exclaimed as Jessie came into the room. Jessie smiled back at the one person who didn't piss her off by saying that. "How was your day? Therapy go well?" She asked, clearly stressing the last part.

"Everything went all right. My day went fast," she answered, lying through the whole thing. Her day was miserable.

"Did Lily bring you?" Karen was wondering who would come by and not stop in. Everyone. She knew that they were upset at the recent events.

"No, Grace dropped me off actually," she saw the worried look on her mother's face. "Eli's picking me up in about an hour," she reassured.

"Oh, that's good," she smiled, relieved. Karen, much like her daughter, had not been sleeping to well lately. She yawned and so did Jessie. "Are you tired sweetie?" Karen asked warmly.

"No," she smiled, "Yawning is contagious, you know that." This earned a smile from Karen too. Karen took Jessie's hand and just held it. In that position, Karen fell asleep. Jessie just watched her and laid her head down on top of their entwined hands.

"Mom?" Eli whispered as he pushed the door open. She looked over at him and smiled. He didn't smile back. "Is she ready?" He asked, motioning to his sister.

"She's asleep," Karen answered, sadly noting his lack of enthusiasm. She saw his 'I-could-care-less' expression. "Jessie. Eli's here to take you home."

Jessie stirred and looked up. "Do I have to?"

"Yes," Karen smiled. "See you tomorrow?" Jessie smiled, nodded and got up. She went over to Eli and grabbed his arm. "Jessie, could you let me talk to your brother alone for a minute?" She nodded solemnly and left, closing the door behind her.

"What do you want?" He growled.

"What is wrong with you?" She asked, upset by his attitude.

"What is wrong with me? More like what's wrong with you?" He took in her shocked expression. "How could you do this to Jessie?" He cleared up.

"I didn't do anything to her. What are you talking about?" She knew, told her the day before. Karen was in denial.

"She thinks that you tried to kill yourself because she was ignoring you!" He shouted. "Now, she thinks that it's her fault for not stopping you." She avoided eye contact with him. Eli scoffed and cast a disapproving sneer at her. "How can you live with yourself?" Her snapped at her, exiting the room.

Jessie was standing by the doorway. She only caught Eli's last remark. "Why the hell did you say that?!" She screeched from the doorway.

Eli turned to Jessie. He looked at her and said, "Because it's true." Next thing he knew, Jessie was shoving him into the wall. He just fell to the floor as Jessie ran down the hall and out of sight. Karen gazed out the window, tears slipping down her face.