October 13, 2026

Jessica Woods-Stanley

Latta Memorial Cemetery

"Hey, Jess. I woke up today and remembered what day it was. I would've tried and called earlier, but you know how busy things can get around here. Just wanted to say that I'm real sorry once again and we all loved Micah and Matthew. I hope you take care of yourself, okay? Please, call me back once you get this. Love you guys. Tell Roy I said 'hey' and make sure he takes care of ya."

Jessica ignored the voicemail she knew she had received from her younger brother who was halfway across the world. She didn't want to talk to anyone right now. All she wanted was to be left alone with her boys.

Jessica sat on her knees in the damp grass with her cellphone in one hand and a picture in another. Her eyes were red and brimmed with tears as she stared down at the two, gray headstones in front of her. They were a beautiful marble and had their names carved in delicately with pictures on the top left corners. Both pictures were mature copies of the faces on her photograph.

She knew her husband, Roy, was nearby in the car parked behind him. He thought his wife was much stronger than he was for he could never find the courage to sit there and look at their names and their smiling faces, knowing perfectly well that they would never be blessed with seeing that smile again. He was always a "softie", as Jessica always mused, and the pain was unbearable.

Yet, there she sat, head hung low and shoulders slouched; small puffs of air were the only signal that she was even still alive out there in the freezing cold. Her face was nearly numb with cold as the wind nearly chilled her tears to her cheeks, yet she couldn't find the strength to stand up and flee from the cold. It was like this every time she came to visit them.

Fresh tears began to pool over her eyelids as she looked up and read the names on each headstone for the millionth time, it seemed like:

Micah Ray Stanley

PFC

January 14, 1997 – October 13, 2024

Matthew Dean Stanley

October 14, 2010 – October 13, 2025

Jessica looked at her oldest son's, Micah's, picture that was set in stone in the upper left corner. He was twenty-nine years old when he was killed in action and was an exact replica of his father at that age. They had the same hazel eyes and crooked nose and smile. His shaggy dark hair was buzzed and his sharp-chiseled features were like Roy's. She remembered when that picture was taken. It was actually an accidental picture, but Jessica admired it so much that she couldn't delete it. It was taken some months before his death and he had come to visit his parents, siblings, and both sides of his family. Roy had said something humorous about the moment and caused Micah to smile when he wanted to take a "serious" picture. He was in his uniform and everything and wanted it to look official and serious, but ended up laughing at his father's joke right at the second when Jessica had pressed the capture button. Now, she was more thankful than ever that she had saved that picture. It gave her some peace while he was serving that, though he was in war and was quickly turning into a respectful, young man right in front of her eyes, she still had a taste of her baby boy that she loved so dearly.

Her eyes then caught her youngest son's name and immediately that painful tug, no, rip, gripped her heart and more tears began to flow down her face. Matthew was and always had been the baby of the family. Jessica was nearly forty when she had him and had a scare delivering him. They thought he would never start breathing and screaming, but he ended up being their miracle baby. He was always the light in their family and always lived up to his name, which meant "gift of God". He always had a smile on his face and could make Jessica and Roy laugh and smile no matter what trial they were going through in their life.

Jessica smiled as a memory came to mind that starred Micah when he was only five years old. It was also around that when Jessica discovered that they were going to welcome another little member of their family in a matter of nine months. She still remembered Micah's face when he learned he was going to be a big brother.

December 16, 2002

Philadelphia

Jessica, Roy, and Micah Stanley

"Hun, you really know how to work that camera?" Jessica asked with an arched brow and eyed her husband skeptically.

Roy looked up from the camera and cocked his head and arched a brow also. "Yes, dear, I do. I find your lack of faith disturbing." He joked with one of his infamous, crooked smiles as he glanced back down at the device in his hands.

Jessica giggled as she examined the camera from across the room, sitting on the middle of the living room floor with her young son while waiting for Roy to finally start recording before Jessica revealed her great news to Micah. "Is it recording now?" She asked impatiently.

Roy cursed the device under his breath, for only his ears to hear, and positioned it on the stand where it would point directly at his wife and boy. "Yup, let 'er fly." He said as he looked through the eyepiece.

Jessica looked it once-over again and crossed her arms against her chest. "Then why's the red light not on?"

Roy opened his mouth to speak, but looked down and noticed that she was right. He mumbled under his breath and finally pushed the large, red button and through the eyepiece once again, giving her a thumbs up.

"Micah, baby, come here." Jessica called when she noticed that in her bickering with Roy that the boy had disappeared into one of the rooms in the hallway adjacent to the living room.

Roy followed the boy as he practically flew out of the room and immediately came rushing into the living room at the sound of his mother's call. Jessica wondered for a split second if he had gotten into something he knew he wasn't supposed to. He never usually responded and reacted so quickly before.

Jessica caught the boy in her open arms and crushed him against her chest, laughing at his grunts and displeasure of the fact his mother was hugging him again for the umpteenth time that day. Roy chuckled as he looked at the two and almost felt like joining them, but knew that he was going to have to man the camera and make sure it recorded all the way through or Jessica was sure to go insane.

"Mama! Quit! It ain't funny no more!" Micah cried, his southern accent –which he had gained from his father and his father's side of the family— quite obvious in his voice.

"Why? I'm just showing that I love my baby boy!" Jessica giggled with a melodious tone in her voice. Her eyes sparkled with love and admiration when she thought about how she'll be cuddling another one of her babies before long.

Micah eventually escaped his mother's loving grasp and sat in her lap. At her words, he looked up at her astonished, offense shining in his warm, hazel eyes. "I ain't no baby, Mama!"

Jessica rolled her eyes with a smile. Though she didn't say it, she would always look at him and see her baby boy. "Baby, why don't you tell me again what you wanna be when you grow up?" She asked so she could get to telling him her news.

Micah immediately grinned and hopped out of his mother's lap, ready to fully demonstrate what he was going to do and be once he was older. To Jessica and Roy's surprise, Micah ran off into another room and disappeared from view for a few minutes. Roy looked over at Jessica, expression showing curiosity, and she just shrugged with a smile.

"Let's hope this next one is more predictable." Roy said with a smile as they waited for their son to return.

Jessica cocked a brow with a wry smile. "Micah is all you, Roy, looks and all. If this next baby is like me, he'll be a complete angel." She mused with a smile, knowing she would get a kick out of him.

Roy just chuckled half-heartedly. "Yeah, I can see the horns holdin' up your halo."

Before Jessica could say any kind of comeback, Micah ran back into the room. Jessica eyed him suspiciously before he started speaking. Micah had donned his black, bicycle helmet and was now wearing his favorite pair of brown work boots that he exclaimed were "just like Daddy's". He even carried his toy rifle that Roy's parents had given him at his last birthday party.

"I'm gonna be a soldier! Just like Granpa and Uncle Justin! I'm gonna shoot the bad guys and save the day! Maybe I'll even marry a pretty lady nurse like he did too! Watcha think, Mama?" He exclaimed as he pointed his gun around and continued to do so until the helmet had fallen in front of his eyes. Jessica had been meaning to get him a new one.

"That sounds like a pretty busy schedule, bubby. Do you think you'd be able to be a big brother around that?" Jessica asked with a sly smile, ignoring the comment about marriage –which she thought was incredibly far away in the future.

Micah pushed the helmet out of his eyes to reveal his brows creased together in confusion. "Whaddya mean, Mama?"

"You're gonna be a big brother, Micah. There's going to be another baby around the house soon." Roy continued Jessica's speech with a smile as he looked at his son's puzzled face through the camera lens.

"You're gonna have a little brother or sister to take care of, baby. Do you like that?" Jessica finished as she smiled at the boy who still stood in the middle of the living room, toy rifle sagging in his arms, as he looked back and forth at his parents as each spoke.

Micah finally glued all the pieces together and smiled a crooked, toothy smile before throwing his gun onto one of the nearest couches and jumped into his mother's arm. He hollered out a chorus of "yay" before he looked up at his mother over his oversized helmet.

"Where's he at?" He questioned as he looked around, hoping he would find their hiding spots like they did with his presents around birthdays and Christmas.

Jessica giggled before answering him as she wrapped her arms around his waist, enjoying every second with her son. "He's in my tummy right now, honey." She answered as she let one hand fall to her stomach so she could really show him where his baby brother or sister was staying at for the moment.

Micah creased his brows again for a second while a frown set on his mouth. He almost looked angry as he peered up at his mother once again, trying his best to place his little balled fist on his hips. "Now, why would ya go and do a thing like that for?" He accused.

Now it was Jessica's turn to look confused as she glanced up at her husband who shrugged this time around. "Whaddya mean, baby?"

"You said he was in your belly. Why would ya eat him?" Micah replied as he poked her stomach with one of his fingers.

Roy was the first to chuckle as he watched his wife try to think of an explanation she could give the little boy. "I didn't eat him, Micah." Jessica finally said through a laugh.

"Well, then how'd it get in there?" Micah questioned innocently, his round, hazel eyes sincere as he now stared down at his mother's stomach. He found it impossible that a baby could fit in there and how his new brother or sister got stuck in there in the first place. His grandmother showed him a book where a big, weird bird called a "stork" carried a baby to mothers and fathers. He hadn't seen a bird recently. Even if that bird did drop off a baby, once again, how'd he get in his mother's stomach without her eating him?

Jessica's eyes trailed over to Roy behind the camera and he just shrugged, obviously finding the situation immensely hilarious as he kept the camera on the two as Micah awaited his answer. "Well, uh, I'll tell you when you're older, sweetie." She finally replied when she couldn't find an answer that she knew would put his questions to a halt.

"That'll take forever! I'll never be all-grown like Daddy!" Micah protested as he jabbed a finger over in Roy's direction like he was throwing razor-sharp stars behind him with the flick of a wrist.

"If Mama's lucky, then it will! Come on, Uncle Sam, time for the cadet to get some sleep!" Jessica said as she reached out and placed a hand on the side of the boy's small face, stroking back the shaggy hair that was peeking out from underneath his helmet that he had previously donned.

Much to Micah's dismay, Jessica suddenly moved her hand from his face and wrapped one arm around the boy's waist and ducked in his direction. Before he knew it, his mother was carrying him on her shoulders, one hand wrapped around the bend of his knee and the other a firm grip on his elbow, as she began to carry her little soldier off to his bedroom that was decked with an assortment of toys and clothes scattered across the floor and his "nightlight" glow-in-the-dark stars on his ceiling.

With a smile, Roy filmed the scene of Jessica's laughter and Micah's animalistic outrage and protesting. Roy couldn't help but think how things were going to get even noisier in the Stanley household.

"Yup, I definitely won't be getting any sleep for years!" He muttered with a grin as he switched off the camera and went to rejoin his wife and son in their screeching attempt of getting the young boy to bed.

Now, Jessica sat at her son's grave, thinking back on every moment she had had with him. He was always such a precious soul; all he ever talked about was doing some kind of good in this world. He had eventually lived out his goal he made as a mere five year old. He became a soldier like his grandfather and great-uncle, but that story ended suddenly one Thanksgiving weekend.

She still remembered the night when all the family was gathered around, both Roy's and Jessica's family. She had been praying all day that Micah would be able to surprise them with a visit. She knew he couldn't just come down whenever he wanted to, she learned that long ago with her father, but her heart ached for the baby boy in picture frames and memories.

When she finally heard a hesitant knock against the door, she could have sworn that that was her baby boy coming home to her on a day of thanks. It nearly took all her strength to not sprint from the kitchen to the front door in excitement when she went to answer it. When she threw the door open, she kept seeing her desired scenario in her head; Micah standing there, that wonderful crooked smile set on his face as he observed his mother's reaction.

Instead, she was met with the sorrowful face of a middle-aged, African-American man with tears already welling in his eyes. Her brain immediately told her why this tearful man was there, but her heart refused to accept. Especially not there, on that day. When he handed her that envelope, he began to explain that battle where her baby boy was no longer on this earth.

She remembered dropping the envelope and feeling her husband's hand on her shoulder and his voice behind her before she lost gravity and consciousness momentarily. Her heart pounded in her chest and threatened to shoot right out of her chest cavity as her vision was blurred with heavy tears. The second Roy asked what was wrong, she fainted back into him.

By the time she came to, she was lying on their queen-sized bed and the entire house was empty, save for the bent-over figure at the edge of the bed. Roy was sitting there with his head bowed, clinging to a picture as though it was his lifeline. She was beginning to think everything was just a dream until she saw the smiling face of their eldest son beaming over at her and the sobs shaking her husband's body. It was all real. The pain was real.

It was the same with her youngest child and son, Matthew. His death had been such a blow. He was only fifteen years old when he died on a Saturday night. She had no idea that when she bid him farewell before leaving with his best friend for the weekend it would be a final good-bye.

Her blond-haired baby boy –the only blond-haired child in their group, surprisingly— had dashed around the house excitedly and was gone from her life permanently in the blink of an eye. It had been an exact year ago on this very day that she lost him on that interstate with a group of teenage boys in tow in the back seat of a minivan.

October 13, 2025

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Jessica and Matthew Stanley

"Mom, come on! Dylan, Lacey, and Ben are all gonna be there! My entire class will be there! I'll be the loser who gets stuck at home playing Monopoly or something!" Fifteen year old Matthew argued with his mother as he followed a step behind her as she zipped around the kitchen, trying her best to clean up and prepare dinner. They were going to be visited by Roy's co-workers and even his supervisor that night for dinner and she wanted to help Roy make a good impression on the men.

"I already told you, Matt, I don't know! With Micah gone, and Elijah and Emaley too busy with their own lives and friends, your daddy is really depending on the two of us to be there and support him. This is a very important night for him and you know how much he wants you there." Jessica argued back with a soft, yet stern motherly tone as she quickly wiped away the bread and salt crumbs that had been scattered all across the bar in their kitchen.

Matthew groaned and ran a hand through his thick, dirty blond hair. "I've been there for all of his dinners and meetings, though! I'm not trying to be a brat; I just want to actually go out with my friends to the most awesome concert in the history of the world!"

Jessica arched a brow at him as she turned around and grabbed a potato-peeler in one hand, never moving her vision from Matthew. "I know, sweetheart. Your daddy and I really appreciate it and love you, but I don't like making these kinds of decisions without talking with Roy first." She said in a softer tone, knowing that he did deserve this grand event this weekend. He had been very dependable and made time in his schedule to help them both after Micah's passing and continued to be there when the rest of their family was going their own ways.

"But you've let me go out with friends on the weekend without Dad's permission or whatever a million times! Why is this so different?" Matthew protested, watching the clock as he realized he was going to have to get a confirmation on his attendance with his friends soon.

"Because some very important people are coming to dinner tonight! Roy's boss is coming over and making a good impression on him could help him in the future. Not many employees get that kind of chance with their bosses. Elijah is too busy with his college studies and Emaley is solely focused on that boy she likes to notice anyone else in her life. Like I said before, we're depending on you and really need you right now. Besides, your birthday is tomorrow! We've never had a birthday in this family separated and I don't want to start now." Jessica explained as simply as she could.

"Mom, if I could go to this concert with the others, it'd be the greatest birthday in my entire life! You know how much I love this band and how I spent months mowing lawns and doing farm work to earn the money to buy my own ticket! Now I have to throw it all away for absolutely nothing for a dinner that's probably going to be really boring?" Matthew pressed on.

Jessica could see the sincerity in his eyes and the desperation in his every movement and expression. He was right; he had worked so hard for his own birthday present and now he couldn't even be rewarded for his labor. It wasn't right and it wasn't fair. Yes, she knew life wasn't always going to be fair to him as he grew older, but he deserved this trip. He had never asked for something this bad before in his life and he never asked them to pay a penny for the travel or transportation. He was definitely a good boy and needed this trip with his best friends.

Perhaps it would be selfish for both her and Roy to keep him home after nearly a year of back-breaking work in the freezing and sometimes humid weather. Both they and many other people rewarded themselves for simple, everyday work as though it were tough labor. Now, when he truly worked hard for this, he wouldn't even get rewarded. It wasn't right. He had to go, he just had to. She just prayed Roy would understand and wouldn't be upset about none of his children being there.

Jessica sighed and placed the potato-peeler down on the solid, black marble of the bar underneath her busy hands and looked over at him. "You got your phone with you?" She said simply as she set to washing the recently peeled potatoes under running water in the sink.

Matthew's brows furrowed together in confusion then softened and grinned when a thought came to his mind. "Of course, Mom, I'm a teenager. Why would you ask such a thing?" He replied jokingly with a hint of sarcasm as he pulled his phone from his pocket and held it in his palm.

Jessica grinned, letting his sarcasm slide this time around and watched the water run over the bare potatoes as she gave him the confirmation to his request. "Good. While you have it out, I need you to make a call."

Matthew's shoulders drooped and he tried his hardest to suppress a dissatisfied groan. "Mom! We don't have time to call Dad! I need an answer now! They're going to leave before I even get an answer!"

Jessica moved her bowl of potatoes back onto the bar and smiled kindly at the aggravated boy. "You have enough time to tell Lacey's mom to come by the house and pick you up then?" She asked with a wry smile, watching his expression as realization sunk in.

Matthew's upset frown and angered, creased brows softened, melted, and was replaced with surprised, arched brows and a toothy smile revealed his neon, green braces as his dimples were struck out on either side of his smiling mouth.

"Oh my, God, Mom! I frickin' love you! I totally frickin' love you! Whatever I've said in anger at you was a total lie!" Matthew hollered as he nearly jumped on his slightly shorter mother and embraced her in a bone-crushing hug.

"Okay, okay! I get it! You better call Lacey's mom before they leave, though! Tell me how much you love me once you're done gawking over everything that happened when you get back!" Jessica said through a chorus of laughs and giggles at her young son.

Matthew didn't say a word but gave her an over-exaggerated kiss on the cheek before suddenly dashing away into the dining room to the hidden hallway in the corner that led to the kids' bedrooms.

Jessica chuckled to herself as she began to cut her potatoes into quarters and prayed she was making the right decision on this. She had never seen him so happy before, though. Wasn't it worth it? He deserved this weekend trip with his friends and deserved the fun she knew he was going to have. When he smiled, she saw a flash of that baby boy that she and the rest of her children practically spoiled when he was but a baby. He was just a matter of three years away from graduating and leaving her nest. He would be the last baby in her house and then she would be completely alone.

That is, if Roy really impressed his boss. It was a weird system, but the man promoted his workers by a home "interview" and made sure he actually needed the raise and promotion as much as they had let on. He wasn't going to give it to someone who clearly was doing much better than just "getting-by". If he got the promotion, that would mean longer hours and longer sleeping hours. Once the kids were gone and starting their own lives, it would just be her in that big, old two-story home with a snoring husband upstairs throughout the day.

Jessica's thoughts were interrupted as Matthew came running back in, shoving his cellphone back into his pocket and juggled a large duffel bag around one arm and his camera, his old, favorite Mp3 player, and ticket and backstage pass in the other hand. His eyes illuminated such a happiness and joy that she hadn't seen in such a long time. Her thoughts were confirmed right there; she was making the right decision. Sure, Roy may be a little upset that he wasn't there, but she knew he would feel the same once he came home with that same joy and excitement making his entire being shake.

"You call her already?" Jessica asked as she abandoned her kitchen duty and followed him pass the living room to the front door, apron still tied around her neck and back as her hair fell in a mess around her shoulders. She was definitely going to have to tidy herself up before their guests arrived.

"Yeah, they were heading out the door and nearly gonna leave me behind! Thank you so much, Mom, for letting me go and making up your mind then! A second later and I'd be stuck here…..No offense." Matthew responded as he threw his duffel bag over his shoulder and tried managed the rest of his belongings into his small, jean pockets.

Jessica just chuckled and grabbed his ticket and pass that was hooked onto a necklace of firm material and threw it over his head and around his neck. Then, she grabbed his camera and Mp3 player and unzipped his bag, carefully stuffing it on top of his overnight clothes that were lazily stuffed inside.

"Okay, you have fun this weekend! And, when you're at the concert, if any girl decides to throw her bra and shirt at the singer, you make sure to avert your eyes!" She jokingly said as she messed with his shaggy hair and tried to straighten his shirt that was crumpled and wrinkled by the heavy bag on his shoulder.

Matthew laughed heartily and peeked out the window of the door to see his friend's minivan practically speeding down the long driveway of their home. He was definitely glad that Lacey and her family lived a couple of minutes away from their country home.

"I can avert them, but I can't promise you they'll be in the opposite direction of the topless girl!" Matthew joked sarcastically as he began making his way towards the door, nearly ready to bust through and started speeding to the van.

Jessica's eyes nearly popped out of her head at her young son's words, but she couldn't hide the sly smile that creeped along her mouth. "Matthew Dean!" She protested as she playfully slapped the back of his head the moment he threw the door open.

Matthew laughed and stopped in his tracks for a short moment in the middle of the sidewalk that lead to the parked van. Bringing the tips of his fingers to his lips, he partially kissed them then released the trapped kiss in the air, "sending" it in Jessica's direction.

She smiled as she remembered this ritual. They used to do it all the time when he was little and he'd go away with someone else besides his mother. He had explained to her once that it showed that he and his love would always be with her and would be there when he was gone. With a soft smile, she watched Matthew pile into the van and she could hear the eruption of excited conversation the moment his head popped into the car.

So, there she stood, holding a balled fist to her heart. He didn't see her returning ritual as she waved good-bye to the van as it rolled away and down her driveway. There, in the pit of her stomach, was suddenly something wrong. Before, she had felt confident that letting him go was the best decision, now, she wasn't as confident. For some reason, guilt ate at her heart that he didn't see her returning ritual that meant he would always be in her heart and she him.

Now, as Jessica sat in front of their graves, she looked down at her balled fist. It was something so simple and silly, in other's eyes, but now it was the only thing left. That was their last moment of contact together. Something so simple and silly was the last reminder in this world that her baby boy, both of them, would always be in her heart. It was almost as if he was preparing her for the heartbreak that was soon to come.

They received the news about the accident hours later into the night. She, her husband, and their guests were all seated in the living room after their meal when Jessica had excused herself to answer the phone that was blaring from the kitchen where it rested on the hook. She was still chuckling over the joke one of Roy's friends had made when she answered with a hello.

She still remembered that message and the unemotional voice of the nurse that was ordered to contact any family that the victim of the accident had had:

"Mrs. Stanley, this is Kara from Shelton Memorial Hospital. We're calling to inform you that your son, Matthew Stanley, has been in a car accident while on the interstate."

She remembered hating the woman for months for the way she sounded on the phone. She thought she had acted as though that boy's life didn't matter. As though he was just some patient that was going to make the hospital even more money and not someone's son and baby. As though Jessica hadn't been the one that went through an agonizing 36 hours to deliver the late baby that the doctors had already told her would most likely risk her life as well as the baby's. As though he wasn't a miracle sent straight to her from Heaven when she finally met the wiggly, howling baby boy hours after he had officially come into this world.

Even to this day, she kept seeing his smiling face as he showed his mother that he was going to be there for her. At the time, he was just trying to comfort her during a long, busy weekend without him, but now it was so symbolic. It was now an entire year and tomorrow, he would have turned sixteen years old. She remembered planning for that day last year. She thought about throwing a big, surprise party and trying to get all of her family, even her father, there to be there for him on this great event. But all her hopes were crushed along with the van. His hopes and dreams for his own future suddenly ended when he saw that semi-truck flying by them and suddenly turning into their lane, not bothering to check more than just a glance in his rear-view mirrors.

Jessica felt tears pour down her face as she looked up at Roy who was walking along the path towards her. She could tell by his red eyes and weary face that he had been secretly balling inside the car. He had always been like that, ever since she had met him. He never wanted to cry in front of her; he was the man of the house, her rock during the hard times. If he showed weakness in front of the woman that needed him most, what good was he? Though, she wished he didn't think that way. She wanted nothing more than to reveal her hidden emotions about this day and she wanted him to tell her everything. Let it out and cry for hours, if needed.

"You alright, darling?" Roy asked as he leaned down and squeezed her shoulder, looking down at the graves with her. A new wave of tears threatened to stream as he looked at both of his sons smiling up at him, haunting him even more. He looked down at his wife instead and offered her a hand.

Jessica just nodded and accepted his hand and pushed herself up from the ground. Roy immediately wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pressed her freezing body closer to his. He could feel her freezing skin from under her jacket and pressed his lips against the top of her head.

"I love you, you know that, right?" Jessica suddenly said in his arms, still staring down at the graves in front of them. He knew she was talking to him this time since she held him close to her with her arms around his waist.

Roy turned her around in his arms and kissed her mouth softly, pressing his forehead against hers. "I love you, Jessica. I always have and always will. You don't worry about me, I ain't going anywhere. I promise you. We'll get through this together." He said confirming her unspoken thoughts as he stared straight down into her delicate, teary green eyes.

Jessica half-heartedly grinned as she pecked her lips against his and glanced back down at the graves. She was fixing to open her mouth to say something as Roy already answered another unspoken thought.

"This was not your fault, Jess. Things happen in our life and a lot of times, it isn't in our appointed time. I miss and love Micah and Matthew more and more every day, but now, I'm just thankful that we were blessed to have been their parents. Many times, you hear children becoming dependent on their parents every day, but we were so dependent on them half the time. You remember those long, hard days when I first started working for the factory? Micah was always the one that entertained us all and made me forget about everything and everyone I had been aggravated and angry with.

"Matthew was one of the greatest kids this world has ever known. Even though he was a teenager and wanted to live his own life, he was there for us every step of the way after Micah's passing and things becoming tough financially. He sacrificed many things that he loved so that it would help both us and the rest of us. He was truly a miracle and I'm blessed to have been his father and got to know him. That's what we have to think about. Not about the 'what-ifs' or the things that could have happened. Both of us, we have to remember the good times and the laughs we all had with them. Remember the joy we felt when we first saw them and the pride we had in them when they took their first steps, said their first words, and each day we were proud of them as they grew up. Remember that and that only. Okay?" Roy said as he continued to stare down into his wife's eyes. Jessica was amazed; she had never heard him speak so deeply like that before.

He was right though. What-if had been haunting her for two years now. What if she had never let Matthew go to that concert? What if she had shown her true feelings about Micah enlisting in the Army? What if they were here now? What would things be like? Would their family still be so separated and apart like it was? Would the grief still be so strong that it drove their only daughter away using the excuse of a dream to travel to escape it?

Jessica just simply nodded and pressed her face against Roy's chest. She was ready to be far away from this sorrowful place. There was no way she could think positive with the obvious reminder of her mistakes right in front of. Well, more like six-feet under her.

New tears began to spill over her eyelids and Roy knew it was time to go. With one last glance, Roy wrapped moved his hands from the sides of her face and wrapped an arm around her shoulder again and slowly, sorrowfully ushered to the two of them away from the graveyard.

So, we just had a little Jessica character development, it seems. I hope this came out well, I have been working on it forever now 'cause I've actually been worried about writing it for fear of you guys hating the idea of throwing in so many character backgrounds that it would make it boring. I definitely plan for this chapter here to have an effect on Jessica throughout the story. So, Micah's and Matthew's deaths do play a role in this story, specifically Jessica and Roy and possibly even one of their children, should they make an appearance. That decision lies with you awesome readers.

Creative Question: Hmm...At the very beginning, another Woods sibling apparently called to check in on Jessica. This sibling will also be featured in an upcoming, possibly next, chapter of IDHY. What are your thoughts of this outcome and what do you think Jessica's journey will be like from this point on? (Sorry, kind of lame this time around.)

WheresDaBeef: Hm, that can actually be doable :) Might take a little while, but I hope it comes out to your expectations! Oooh, I actually have an idea right now ;) Also, thank you. I'm really glad that you said that about Jesselynn. If you and/or anyone else has something that would help me to keep Jesselynn away from the Mary-Sue fate, it would DEFINITELY be appreciated! My fears get worse with every chapter that she becomes a Mary-Sue!

CaptainHall: Bahahaha! I laughed way harder than I should have about Marcus! :P Also, thank you and thank you so much for being such an awesome, loyal reader! You have no idea how much it really means to me and I am not just saying that because it feels necessary! Here's a virtual cookie and big ole smiley face =D

Thank you to everyone that is reading now and for even sticking with me in this story! It really does mean the world to mean and it would mean a lot if you left a review? Pretty please? :P I would love to hear your HONEST opinions! :D

Okay, it's 2:00 a.m. I need sleep or my family will suffer the wrath of my stupidity of staying up late :P Thank you everyone again for reading and have an amazing day!