Anonymous: "I know some people seem to think that Jackson has a lot of negative emotions towards April so maybe you could do something relating to that? maybe he misinterprets something or catches her doing something and freaks out?"
I predict this will be short and to the point. Exhausted today.
100 Encore, Day 40: "Turn Around"
Jackson carefully placed the single key in the lock and turned. He'd taken it off his key chain to eliminate jingling. He knew this day would come, and was always prepared.
They'd finally slipped, thinking that Jackson was at work. But he'd come home to grab some paperwork and spotted Matthew's car. Because he remembered it. Because he'd been paranoid about this lately. Because she came home and went directly into the shower. Because she slept on the opposite side of the bed from him lately. Because she was having an affair.
He creeped down the hallway, but paused at the bedroom door for a split second, knowing what he was about to walk in on.
Sure enough, he opened the door and saw his wife riding her ex-boyfriend, both too deep in the throes of passion to notice him. Before he lost his nerve, Jackson pulled out his shotgun and fired. Bang! It hit her right in the head.
The shot woke Jackson up from his nightmare in a cold sweat. He'd never seen it to the end before, not that end anyway. In the version he usually had, she turned around and smiled at him and he put the gun down and woke up.
Panicking, he pulled April close to him, kissing her neck. She stirred and eventually woke up. "Jackson, what's wrong?" she asked, through a yawn.
"Y-y-you didn't turn around….y-y-y-you always turn around but this time you didn't and…"
"Shh…Are you crying?" She sat up in bed and rubbed his head to comfort him, wiping a tear from one eye.
He didn't answer, kissing her instead. She let him roll on top of her, knowing what he always needed in these moments. "You didn't turn around." He whispered, voice still shaky.
"What?"
"Just don't cheat on me….please…
"What even…." But it was too late to have this conversation. "Ok, I won't. I promise. I love you."