"Justin! Oh my God, what are you doing here?" Jesselynn said happily as her brother wrapped his long, strong arms around her back and swung in her in one circle. His usually shaggy brown hair was cut short and his green eyes, identical with hers, glimmered with happiness with the sight and feeling of his older sister in his arms.
"What do you mean what am I doing here? I was recruited! Same as you!" Justin said placing her on her own two feet, shaking her shoulders softly with a big smile on his face.
Jesselynn rolled her eyes at her little brother. Although, now she couldn't really say 'little' anymore. He shadowed over her easily and his strong form he had gained during his years of training had definitely showed that he was no longer that knuckle-headed, scrawny teenager she would always see him as. The only thing, to her, that was the same was those green eyes of his. Since birth until this moment now, he would always have those kind green eyes that never had a bad word against anyone. Well, almost anyone.
"You know what I meant, Justin. I'm so happy you're here. At least it'll save me the gray hairs and worrying now that we're at the same base," She said hugging him once again, burying her face into his chest. She had never realized how much she missed her sibling during their years of separation. She didn't care who saw her, she wanted to know one hundred percent that her baby brother was with her now; alive and well.
Justin was taken aback slightly by his sister's sudden action, but he didn't refuse. He had missed her dearly. He missed the way she was like his own over-protective mother, always wanting to know exactly where he was all the time and if he was perfectly healthy. He remembered thinking when he was a young teenager that she was trying to rule his life, but that was just a phase that passed before he enlisted. He had missed that about her, too. No matter how annoying she could be sometimes, she would always be his nagging, older sister.
Jesselynn eventually pulled herself away from her brother and took a step back, folding her arms around her chest with a grin as she looked up at him.
"So, tell me. What has been going in your life that you can tell me?" She asked as they continued to stand amongst each other, Jesselynn tucking loose strands of hair behind her ear while also blocking her face from the sudden cloud of dust that was kicked up by a nearby helicopter that was making it's departure.
Justin glanced at the helicopter as it began to disappear into the horizon before returning his gaze back to his sister.
"Well, the usual, I suppose. Nothing but training and going on small runs. My commander would volunteer me to the small missions that aren't really talked about to gain my experience on the field. This is my first real battle -Please don't throw one of your special 'Jesselynn's Older Sibling Rant' on me," He paused momentarily, knowing that she would be unnerved by this simple fact before continuing, "After some time, I was given the word that I was going to be deployed here in Vietnam. I thought about sending you a letter as a head's up, but I wanted it to be a surprise. Although, a minute later I heard I was going to be deployed a lot earlier than what was planned so even if I wanted to write something to you, it was going to be a surprise anyway. Oh, speaking of surprises," Justin continued, running a hand through whatever brown hair he had left when his eyes suddenly sparked with remembrance.
Jesselynn bit her lip to keep her from protesting against the fact that this was his first fight, but was overcome with curiosity when she began to see him try to maneuver a silver chain from his neck.
"Thought you'd like this back. It's brought me enough luck, figured you might need it in the days to come," He said slowly and carefully pulling the chain from his neck and forcing her hand to open as he curled her fingers around the object.
Jesselynn glanced at his waiting face then down at the object in her palm. She uncurled her fingers and was surprised with a familiar sight. She remembered she had given the locket to him the day he was first deployed, the day she remembered as the day she left her life for what felt like forever.
Her thumbnail traced over the oval-shaped locket with a soft grin. Their mother had given her the locket on her tenth birthday, some days before they had died. It was her greatest treasure and it had honestly hurt giving it to her brother, but she knew it was something he deserved to have in his possession.
She took in a soft, deep breath as she dug her fingernail under the clasp to see if the picture was still in place. She knew Justin would do everything in his power to take absolute care of her precious locket, but she needed her own reassurance as the soft click symbolized that she was able to see the picture once again.
It was a simple, small family picture on the right frame and small, neatly carved writing on the left. She remembered when they took the picture on the right. Justin was still a newborn, only two weeks old. Jesselynn could see her younger self staring back at her. She scoffed at her crooked teeth and her slightly frizzy hair. She was such a mess in picture. She had always been surprised that her mother would let her out in public knowing of her terrible appearance.
She saw her mother next, cradling baby Justin in her arms so lovingly and tender. The sides and front of her auburn hair was pulled back with a clip and her chocolate brown eyes twinkled with kindness. Jesselynn hadn't realized how much her appearance was beginning to match her mother's. She never bothered to really study her face in the mirror besides a simple check. But, she figured that was nothing new. Most daughters grow to resemble their mothers.
Her eyes then caught across to her father. Her grin stretched into a soft smile, a million memories coming to mind at the mere look of his face. He had kind green eyes that he had passed on to both her and Justin. She remembered how caring and thoughtful he could be, but how different he could be if the she ever disobeyed. She remembered his strict rules and his constant lessons and teachings of the right traits. Until the day he died, he made sure his daughter was kind, thoughtful, obedient, respectful, and many others. She may have broken some of his rules along the way of her growing, but she still remembered them to this day. She had tried so hard to be the same way with Justin. She felt like there could have been more improved that her father would have been wonderful with, but she knew she had tried her best. Besides, she felt as though she didn't have much to worry about the with young man before her. He was as great a man as their own father was and she was proud of him.
Jesselynn felt her throat began to tighten as she thought about how proud and happy their parents would be if they could see Justin today. She would like to think they would be. Most parents would of their child. She was a surgeon for the military, but what about her past? What lead her to this day? Would they be proud of deciding to live with a man she despised and then accept his engagement later on.
When her eyes began to burn with tears she knew were soon to appear, she chose to change the subject. She took in a quick deep breath and looked up at Justin who was beginning to worry about his sister's silence and saddened expression.
"They'd be so proud of you, Justin. They really would," She said giving him a forced grin and looked down at the locket once again, "But, I think you're wrong," She paused for a moment and lifted the chain and back to his neck with a smile, "I think you need this more than I do. Luck has kind of been on my side at the moment. Besides, like you said, this is your first real battle; you need all the luck you can get," She said repositioning the locket on his chest.
Justin tucked it back under his shirt like it had been before he took it off. Jesselynn grinned at the fact that he kind of hid them. She knew there was more to it than the reason he didn't want to be seen with a woman's golden locket. She just passed the thought and looked around her.
She could see Roxanne leaving the infirmary building, already looking at her and the young man in her presence. Jesselynn grinned and waved at her softly, Roxanne returning the gesture before turning and leaving. She figured she was going to try and turn in early. She couldn't blame her, must have been exhausted.
Jesselynn looked back at her brother and found that his gaze was still on the woman that was watching the two. She chuckled softly and smiled, folding her arms across her chest as she arched an eyebrow.
"Interested, baby brother?" She teased mockingly, forcing him to snap out of his trance.
"What? No...Jesus, Jess," He said quickly defending himself as he shook his head at his sister who continued to laugh.
She hadn't realized how long it had been since she had really laughed. Especially with her brother. It felt nice and different. A good difference though. She was more welcome to this kind of different.
"Well, she's a little bit older than you anyway. Not that that matters much, though. Mom was two years older than Dad," Jesselynn said as she began to walk with him, creeping slowly to her quarters to call it a night also.
Justin just rolled his eyes at her. He didn't feel like talking about his parents at the moment or women with his sister, so he quickly changed the subject, "So, since you've been interrogating me about what I've been doing, what's happened with you?" He asked, walking slowly with her. He knew he probably should have excused himself from her presence, but he hadn't seen her in years. He wanted to spend a little time with her before he had to go back his normal activities.
Jesselynn sighed, thinking over the years and exactly what she should say. In her mind, there wasn't much. Nothing exciting in any way, "Well, nothing really. Before I left, I broke off the engagement with Marcus, but that's nothing extraordinary. The only reason I was with him was you since he promised a future and college and things like that, so once you were deployed, I figured I didn't need him anymore," She paused for a moment as she looked up at her brother, searching for his expression. There was nothing but a soft smile stretching across his lips. She knew that he'd like to hear that.
"After that, things were pretty normal as they can be. I studied and practiced for what felt like forever before I was really sent to major bases. The woman you were gawking at is my friend Roxanne Fischer. I met her about a week ago. I was mean to her at first and just earlier today, I apologized after she told me about her husband and daughter-" She continued, skipping over to Roxanne and the present instead of going through years of surgeries.
"She's married?" Justin interrupted absent-mindedly, disappointed expression crossing his face.
Jesselynn bit her lip to keep from chuckling at her brother, "Thought you weren't interested," She said jokingly, nudging his side with her elbow teasingly.
Justin's face grew warm and his cheeks turned slightly pink before returning to their normal color, "Oh shut up, Jess. I was just...stating the obvious," He said trying to cover up his embarrassment and think of a good enough excuse to give her even though he knew she wouldn't let him live this down from now on.
She scoffed with a grin, "Well, Mr. 'Not-Interested', she was married. Her husband was a soldier also, but he was shot and died on an operating table. She has a little girl named Sonora, also," She said still grinning at her brother. She loved how he had never changed from the same boy she would always see him as.
"That why she decided to take up this career? You know, a surgeon for the military?" He questioned, interested in this woman that had befriended his sister.
"Yeah, I think so. She felt like she had to be here, helping other soldiers live to see their families. Well, that's her hope. She's a good woman. I'd think you'd like her to and this time I mean as a friend," She said, quickly defending herself before he snapped at her.
Justin just grinned half-heartedly, "I guess if you say she's a good woman, it must be true. With you being 'Miss Judgmental' half the time," He said teasing her lightly, trying to get the topic from him and this woman, Roxanne.
Jesselynn gasped teasingly, "'Miss Judgmental'?" She questioned, faking a taken aback look.
He just smiled, "Yeah, you're awful about judging a person with just one look at them. If we weren't related you'd probably think I was some dumb kid who would die out there in two seconds," He said crossing his arms, arching a brow at her.
She let out a breath, "Okay, I won't lie, I would probably think that, but since you're my baby brother, I must say that you are strong and will survive," She said, patting his shoulder as she began to walk away from and walking towards the entrance of her quarters.
Justin just rolled his eyes at her and grinned when her words snapped together in his thoughts, "Wait! What do you mean you 'must say'? Shouldn't that be know? Or at least want?" He called out at her, nervous of her selection of words.
Jesselynn said nothing but turned her back to him and laughed. He was always putting more meaning into someone's words.
Justin was left standing there, his own questions echoing around them, as he watched Jesselynn disappear behind the door. He decided to just ignore his sister's words no matter how uncomfortable they might have been when he heard his name being called behind him.
"Thorne! Get your ass over here!"
He looked back to see his commander, Sergeant Woods, waving him over. Justin suddenly wished he was with Jesselynn again. He had enjoyed his time with her and didn't want to return to his normal military life so suddenly. He let out a breath realizing how ridiculous he sounded. He had signed up for this, why was he complaining? He didn't come here to have a family reunion anyway. That was just luck on his side.
"Hm, maybe she was right," He thought as he remembered Jesselynn's words about the locket. He knew he was definitely going to need it now more than ever.
Jessica continued to stare down at her feet as they slowly began to drag across the cement walkway. She had never really heard of stories of her uncle. She knew the basics about him, but that was mostly it. She didn't know why really, she just didn't talk about him. She hoped that there wasn't some fight that split them apart.
The three continued to walk along quietly, Jesselynn enjoying the sunlight against her skin as she walked a step ahead of Michael. Jessica couldn't help but think how humorous it was that the elderly woman was faster than the younger man beside her. She was surprised that Michael wasn't used to always being on his feet, especially with his situation.
Michael interrupted her train of thought with his own question, a smile following.
"So, your brother was interested in your friend?" He asked looking down at the elderly woman's still grinning face. Her expression showed that she was still stuck in the memory of her reunion with her brother so many years ago.
"He would never admit it, but yes, I definitely think he was. He had his crushes before, but there was something different about him when it came to Roxanne. Of course, he didn't let that completely change him or change his decisions when it came to the war, but he was a little different. I definitely never had seen him act like a gentleman so much when she was in his presence. There was one time, he was with one of his friends around the base talking and carrying on when Roxanne came to ask him something. I can't remember what it was now, but I still laugh thinking about what his reaction could have been like in person.
"She told me that they were leaning back against some crates and smoking, but when she approached them, she saw Justin rip out the cigarette from his friend's mouth and then his and stomped them out and sat straight up. He knew how she didn't like the smell of cigarette smoke and wasn't fond of being in its presence so he definitely took care of that. Now, if he hadn't taken his friend's, I figured that he was just being considerate, but knowing he did, I definitely feel like there was more behind his actions," She said smiling warmly at the memory of her brother and Roxanne.
"Did Roxanne ever show anything back?" Jessica piped in, curiosity getting the best of her. She told herself she wouldn't let herself get involved with memories and conversations that weren't solely about her mother and father, but she thought this was a nice change.
"I suppose, yes. I think at first Roxanne felt bad for even thinking about another man beside her husband, but I think she began to warm up to it. She asked about him some; made me tell her about some childhood memories involving him when we were trying so hard to fall asleep some nights. It helped her sleep better hearing about times that didn't involve tragedy or death. It pulled her mind away from her husband, for being in the base made her constantly think about him since he was soldier.
"She would sometimes make small comments on the side after the story. Things like 'Well, he certainly is an interesting man,' or, 'I wish I could know him more like that'. It was probably nothing, but I always wondered myself if she meant more on it," Jesselynn said trying to think of some logical reason that would imply returning feelings towards her brother, smiling at the fond memories along the way.
Michael glanced over at Jessica, sharing the same expression. They knew they were both straying away from the reason they were even there, but it was so nice to hear their mother speak to them once again, even if she thought of them as just strangers that were turning into possible friends. Jessica knew how it must have hurt Michael the most during this time. They had always shared a strong bond, ever since the moment he was born there was always something different about their mother; she remembered that much from her older sister's stories.
Michael looked down at his watch, halting in his steps momentarily. It was nearing three o'clock and he knew he had to be leaving soon. He ran a hand through his blonde hair and let out a sigh before turning to Jesselynn, making her halt for a moment in her walk.
"I really hate to leave suddenly, but I have to go. I need to go pick up Sierra," He said apologizing for his sudden need for departure, looking over at his sister on the second sentence.
Jessica nodded in understanding, "Okay, I'll stay here and keep Jesselynn company until visiting hours are over, if that's alright of course," She said turning to the woman on the last part, making sure Jesselynn didn't mind before she made plans.
"Of course, it's been a long time since I've had visitors. Besides, my walk is almost over anyway," She said reassuring the younger woman with a grin.
Michael nodded before hugging his sister, secretly looking for comfort in the fact that he had to leave his mother once again, he shook the woman's hand softly before disappearing before them.
Jessica sighed as the two stood there silently, already missing Michael's talkative presence. Jessica now realized that he was the only reason the conversation had continued because of his random questions. Why they were even happy at the moment when she began to speak of Justin and Roxanne.
Jesselynn began walking once again, Jessica suddenly catching up and appearing at her side as they continued on the walkway. It was silent between them for a moment before Jesselynn spoke up, staring straight ahead and glancing occasionally at the younger woman beside her.
"If I'm not intruding or being nosy, who is this Sierra? I'm guessing his daughter?" Jesselynn asked hoping to ignite a conversation between the two.
Jessica was a little surprised that she had spoken, but took a second to think over her answer, "Well, you're definitely not being nosy or intruding in any way. It's not really a secret. Sierra is...somewhat his daughter," Jessica said trying to find the best possible way to explain his situation.
"Somewhat?" Jesselynn pressed, curiosity coming over her at the word and the hesitant way she used it in her sentence.
"Well... Jeremy, does have children. Two be exact. A son named Lucas, who is the oldest, and Jenni, who is the youngest," She began, hesitating for a moment to keep her from accidentally using her brother's actual name.
"Lucas...I always liked the name. Jenni's a pretty name too," Jesselynn commentated, ignoring the way she paused when using his name.
"Yeah, so did his wife, Carol. She was diagnosed with breast cancer when the youngest, Jenni was just three years old. She then died when Jenni was twelve," Jessica began remembering the sad time in her brother's life. She had loved Carol like an actual sister, her heart was broken when she heard of her passing years ago.
"Oh, I'm so sorry. How old was the boy? It's terrible that they had to struggle through this with their mother at a young age," Jesselynn asked sympathetically, face and eyes immediately snapping over to the woman at the news.
"Lucas was five; they're only two years apart. Carol and Jeremy were actually planning on having at least one more child at the time, but their plans were obviously changed.
"Carol's death really changed them all. Jeremy pretty much went through a depression the first six or so months which hurt the kids also. Lucas grew distant from his father, but still tried to be strong and did everything he thought would have made his mother proud, but Jenni...She changed for the worst, the poor girl," She paused for a moment, feeling that familiar sadness for her niece, remembering Michael's sorrow-filled stories when she began acting out.
"She began acting out. Disobeying and being so disrespectful. When she was thirteen, she was caught skipping school and then she started picking fights with some of the other girls. Jeremy sat her down and tried to speak with her, but his words were falling on dead ears. She got worse and broke her father's heart more and more each day with every phone call. When she was fifteen, her friend's mother caught her and her friend smoking outside of their shed. Jeremy tried to set boundaries with her and punish her, but no matter what she'd find a loop hole out of it.
"I'm surprised Jeremy is still even with me considering what happened after that. When she was sixteen, almost seventeen, she met some boy named Jason. That's when she really began plummeting. I hate saying it, but she was beyond help then. He got her associated with drugs and the whole business. She dropped out of high school so she'd could be with him and his group 24/7. We never really heard about her that much until a police officer visited him one night. It had been years since he last seen or heard from his daughter, so it was a huge surprise.
"They, um, sat him down and began explaining why they were even there. Earlier that night, a neighbor heard some shooting going on in the apartment across from him, so he called the cops. Turns out that Jason and Jenni had been living together for years and Jenni wound up getting pregnant at one point. They were actually thinking about abortion, but they couldn't pay for it, Jenni just decided to keep the baby. So for about two or three years, that poor baby had to live with her parents. They were both alcoholics and addicted to drugs so there was no telling what had happened in that house. The police said that they were told that Jenni would sometimes leave the baby at home alone or just completely ignored her. Some said that, Jenni was beginning to be unable to really pay for her drugs so she let the dealers come in her home and do whatever they wanted to her. They think she would even do that with the baby watching; kicking and screaming. It's so horrible to think what that poor toddler had to put up with.
"Well, the officers began to tell him why they were even there to begin with. Turns out that Jason had actually tried to help the baby at one point which made Jenni made. She had already been so stressed from her withdrawals so that didn't help her any. Well, they got into this big fight and once Jenni had eventually fallen asleep, Jason kissed the baby good-bye and ran off with the money that Jenni was going to give her dealer that morning. So, when he did come by the next day to get his money, he didn't want Jenni this time. He had been tired of her stalling off from the real money and real payment, so when she couldn't find the money, he shot her. Clean through the brain. After he completely robbed the place of anything valuable, he was gone. It wasn't until hours later that the police finally arrived to an almost empty apartment and a screaming and crying toddler.
"They said they found her locked inside a dark room, nothing but a sippy-cup of water and stale cereal in a plastic-baggy. After a while, they began speaking to some of the neighbors, asking for any kind of family of Jenni's and one woman spoke of Jeremy. They went down to his house and after the story, they let him see the girl. Jeremy told me he broke down in tears when he first saw her. She couldn't walk, didn't know how to. She could speak some, but what she did say were small words. No one ever really bothered to really teach her so she had to learn through whatever she could. He also said she looked just like Jenni when she was at that age, which immediately he made his decision on.
"He asked them what her name was, but they replied saying that she actually didn't have an official name. She wasn't born in a hospital and her parents never took her to a doctor, but they did say that her father, Jason, was known to call her Sierra from time to time. No one knows why, he just did. So, ever since then, Jeremy took her in. Gave her an actual birth certificate, food, proper clothing, shelter, and most importantly, love. We were all surprised at how incredibly smart she was. She learned to walk pretty quick. All she needed really was just a little boost. Her speech became better, but she still has some struggle with some words to this day. Poor thing suffers with nightmares though. Says she keeps dreaming about some nights with her parents or the men her mother would bring in. She was living proof to some of the rumors that others spread around. The poor thing had no idea what it was at the time, but she says she has faint memories of being stuck in her crib, crying, while some strange man, as she had said it, took her mommy's clothes off. It's awful...
"Jeremy is wonderful with her though. She's a miracle for all of us in our family. You see her now and you never would have believed she came from such a background. She calls him Pappy. We don't really know why, he doesn't mind the term Grandpa, but ever since she was with him she called him Pappy," Jessica said, giving Jenni and Sierra's background to Jesselynn before her. Jesselynn grew a sadder expression with each sentence. She couldn't believe the horrible things this child had to go through. What she was forced to grow up in. It broke her heart even hearing about it. She couldn't imagine the pain that the man could have gone through. First losing his wife and then watching his children change and his daughter completely turn away from him and went to a life of pain and lies. Then he had to hear the news that his daughter let these men come in there and have sex with her, right in front of her young child, just so she could live another day for her drugs. She couldn't even describe the amount of pain his already-broken heart must have experienced at the news that his daughter was murdered and the news of his granddaughter's terrifying upbringing.
"That's so awful. What happened to his son? Did he change as well?" Jesselynn asked, pressing her hand against her chest as they began to sit down on one of the benches along the walk way.
"Not so much. He still loved his father and after Jenni went missing with Jason, he began to grow closer with Jeremy so he wouldn't be alone through this. Over the years, he graduated both high school and college and became a lawyer. He married a third-grade teacher named Julia Wentz. They were unable to have children so Julia just decided to not even think about children. She wanted them, yes, but she didn't want to adopt because she felt she would be reminded everyday how she failed as a woman to her husband. She was happy with her students though and they filled a void in her heart. Lucas also felt as though he'd be too busy with his job and didn't want his child, adopted or not, to always wonder if daddy was going to be home or not. Besides, by the time Sierra came, they had their hands full with her whenever Jeremy had to go away for a while because of business or had to work late. Like I said, Sierra was a blessing to all of us," Jessica said with a grin, proud of her nephew and the way he had grown. She knew Carol would have been so proud of the man he was today.
Jesselynn nodded in agreement, grinning slightly, "Well, it sounds like she certainly was. I'm glad there has been some happiness in his life. I can't imagine how hard it must have been for him when his life was turned completely upside down like that. I know what's like to turn away from that. When my parents died, my world completely changed. I always thought I had longer with them," Jesselynn said, remembering the night of her parents' death, with grin changing into a frown, along with the rest of her expression.
"What happened to them? How did they die, if it's alright to ask and if you're comfortable with saying so," Jessica asked, hoping not to sound as if she was trying to pry into the woman's personal thoughts.
Jesselynn sat there before a moment before she suddenly stood up, "I don't want to talk anymore, I'm going back to my room and taking a nap," She said as she turned and began walking away from her, not looking back once.
Jessica was surprised at this, but figured that she may have been asking too much of her. She sighed and sat back down on the bench, resting her weary face in her palms as a soft breeze began to tickle any skin that was showing. She felt so emotionally drained at the moment, but tears she had been holding back began slowly trickling down her cheeks.
She wished that she wasn't even here. Wasn't even in this situation. She wished she had her father and her mother once again. She wished she could just go back to their last home and find them there; her father in his chair and her mother making joking threats about, in her words, rolling his ass down a hill if he continued to tease her. She missed their playful banter so much. She remembered how her mother would stoop down to steal a kiss and how she and her brother Frankie would let out a chorus of 'ew' just to let them know how they felt about their displays of affection. She remembered Melanie, usually a teenager at the time, and how she would react, standing up out of her chair and either saying she was moving her meal or homework to another room or found it unfair that they could kiss while she wasn't even allowed to kiss her boyfriend, Benjamin, whenever he came to visit. Jessica smiled at that now, knowing that it was more of her father's rule on that. He just couldn't stand to see his oldest daughter with a boy. Especially one that loved to hold her close and kiss her. Jessica just continued to laugh at the thought. She remembered how he'd "accidentally" ran over the boy's foot once when he was giving her a kiss good-bye, not even near the door.
She remembered her mother scolding him for doing so and always taking her daughter's side when it came to Ben. Well, to some things. She agreed with her father when it came to the two being alone together. That was an immediate "crime".
Tears began to roll even more down her eyes when she thought about her mother and how she had been. Would she ever remember that? Would she remember the times she would sit her daughters down and brush their hair when they've had a bad day and just let them speak about their thoughts and feelings on the matter while she just listened. She missed those moments so much. Her mother knew exactly when her daughters just needed an ear. Not advice or a mouth for answers, just an ear. She missed how she would just sit there silently as she ran a brush softly and slowly through their hair, giving the occasional nod or mutter to let them know that she was definitely listening and understanding.
Her silent grief was interrupted by a vibration in her pocket. It wasn't until a second later that she realized it was her cellphone. She sighed and tried to recollect herself so she wouldn't sound so broken-up on the phone.
When she finally dug the cellphone from her pocket, she saw that it was her sister. The same woman she had just been thinking about. She wiped away a tear that had been hiding in the crease between her cheek and nostril as she answered the phone.
"Yeah?" She answered, knowing what she must have been calling for.
"How'd it go? She remember anything?" Melanie asked, immediately wanting to know of her mother's current condition.
Jessica sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose, not ready to admit that their mother had no idea they were even her children, "She remembers...But, not us. She thinks of us as little children still. Little children she's just waiting to see. She was telling us about how she first left Michael's father and how she met Dad, some woman named Roxanne, and even our Uncle Justin. I tried to ask her about her parents, but she stood up and walked away. The way she spoke, it was like she was leaving a conversation with a stranger. I think she knew she was beginning to lose her memory again. I know that sounds ridiculous, but that's what I feel," Jessica informed her sister, letting her know of the memories of the day.
Melanie was silent on the other side of the phone as she sighed and let this information sink in. She could hear the sound of a child's giggling and even what could be the sound of a baby's cry. She figured one of her daughters', Melody or Krista, must have been over with their children. Probably visiting after a day of school.
"Well, I guess I should have expected as much. It would be asking too much to say that she was completely healed from this. How about Michael? Did he take it alright? I know it must've been hard on him," She said, her thoughts immediately turning to her younger brother brother.
"I think he did okay. He was the one who asked the most questions, really. He left a minute ago to go pick up Sierra. I imagine he'll call you and the others before I even think about it. I just know I want to get home and back to Roy before I explode into a million pieces right here," Jessica said wearily, wishing to be home at the moment and with her husband so she could forget about this day for at least a little while.
Melanie was quiet for a moment as she noticed the weariness in her sister's voice, "Are you alright, Jess? You don't sound good," She asked, concerned that this visit had taken the worst toll on her.
Jessica was hesitant with answering her as she stood up from the bench and began walking down the path she, Michael, and Jesselynn had been on moments ago. She wanted to say yes and that she was perfectly fine, but she couldn't lie to her sister, but she also didn't want to bring any unnecessary attention to herself. She sighed and cut off onto the grass, towards the sidewalk leading towards her vehicle.
"I'm fine, Mel. Don't worry about me, okay?" She paused for a moment, but didn't wait for her sister to answer her, "I have to go okay. I hate talking on the phone while driving. I'll talk to you later," She said quick enough so her sister couldn't get a word in. She heard her begin to say something, but Jessica just hung up and immediately turned her phone off.
She didn't feel like talking at the moment. She stood outside her vehicle, leaning against the car door with closed eyes staring up at the sky above her. She didn't realize how much this day had affected her until now. Talking about Michael as this "Jeremy" made her realize how hard it was that she would never know that she was talking about her granddaughter and her great-granddaughter. But, as she thought about it, maybe it was better in that sense. She was sad just hearing about it being someone else's back story, but what if she had known that it was her child's heart-breaking story? How would she have taken it then?
Jessica opened her eyes and opened her car door. She didn't want to think about it anymore today. She knew she was sure to break down if she were to continue thinking about it. She wanted so much to get back to her husband. He had a way of making her forget about everything with just being in his presence. She was craving to hear one of his cheesy jokes and cracks about things and his silly phrases. She needed that right now. She needed something normal.
As she started her way from the nursing home, she felt her heart grow heavier the farther she went. She knew that she couldn't back anymore today. Jesselynn was tired and her visiting hours were almost up anyway. She didn't want to disturb her or make the situation worse before it was even fully well.
She sighed as she forced herself to stare straight into the windshield. She didn't need to think about this anymore as she turned the radio on, letting the current song completely wipe her mind clean of her vicious thoughts as she made her departure.
Holy Shittington! This chapter is nearly 7k words long! I wanted a longer chapter, but geez! Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this massively insanely huge chapter and I hope you didn't get bored along the way!
Okay, so, I asked this question before on my Twitter account and now I will ask it again. First off, this is purely for fun and so you guys can partake in my fun as I write this story. I know it can be fun when you get these little creative questions. And what I mean is, I will ask you guys something and I want you to think of something from your imagination and tell me. If you don't wont to do it, that's cool. I totally understand. I understand that some don't want to be apart of my insane nerdiness :P
Okay, here's the first Creative Question: Why do you guys think this story is named "I Don't Hate You"?
Pretty easy, eh? Like I said before, if you don't want to do it or don't have anything. It's completely cool. I just thought it'd be something new :)
Anyway, thank you all for reading and sticking along through my ridiculous procrastination. I meant to post this earlier, but I will not lie, I am majorally lazy and don't want to sit down and write. But, I finally forced myself to write this and it took me about a little over two-three hours to do so. Maybe more, I dunno.
ANYWAY! Geesh, had some major ADD right there! Please review and tell me what you think of this and if you have a Creative Answer, please share! I'd love to hear your thoughts on my weird titles :D
Have a wonderful day and please come back! Don't leave me! (Sorry for that weirdness, I'm a little hyper tonight...)