Jess couldn’t take the life of this little creature that had formed in her womb. Life was hard. Grandma had to take care of little Sammy, and Jess still worked at the post office.
It was a relief they hadn’t fired her yet. Almost everyone in the village pointed at Jessica Rose and whispered that she had put the guy behind bars because he refused to marry her. It’s hard to imagine how many spiteful tongues exist in this world.
Jess had to silently endure all this. She needed to survive and feed her grandmother and daughter. And then Jack White reappeared in her life.
You will pay for everything. Jack hissed, drawing his face close to hers. It’s because of you I spent my best years behind bars.
It’s because of you I couldn’t even say goodbye to my mother when she was dying. You should have thought of that earlier, you scoundrel. Jessica hissed back, You probably expected me to beg you for another unforgettable night, right? Well, know this, you were a terrible lover.
Jessica tried to break free again. Jack dragged her somewhere. Unfortunately, the street was deserted.
It was October, and it was raining intermittently, windy, and nasty. Few wanted to be outside in such heavenly weather. They stood not far from the swamp.
What do you want from me? Jess asked, very frightened. I want you to beg for forgiveness. On your knees.
You’re sick, Jack, the girl said with a disgusted grimace. Then he hit her in the face. Pain shot through her entire being, and circles swam before her eyes.
Suddenly, Jess grabbed a thick stick and struck Jack on the head with all her might. He staggered and fell right at her feet. Good riddance, bastard.
Jessica kicked him with the toe of her boot. Then the girl took a desperate step. She took off her jacket and headed to the swamp.
Carefully, so as not to stumble, she smeared it with mud and then hung it on a branch so that it lightly touched the swampy mire. Just in case, she also took off her watch and threw it on the forest path, leading to this very wretched place. Jessica ran along the highway until a kind old man picked her up and took her to the city.
There, the poor girl’s new life began. She immediately found a job as a cleaner in a hair salon. Everything worked out with housing.
Two, Nancy, a hairdresser, suggested they share an apartment. They quickly became friends and best pals. And then Jess met the man of her dreams, Paul Gill.
That’s my simple story, Jessica said with a sigh. Jess, but why didn’t you tell me about Samantha right away? We would have come here immediately and… I was scared, Paul, very scared. Jack White is capable of anything.
What if he did something? This way, it wasn’t advantageous for him to show up. They could have nabbed him, accusing him of my death, she sobbed. Yes, I acted dishonestly.
I wanted to get married first and then tell everything. Jessica, but does that mean you wanted this wedding just because it was convenient for you? You don’t love me, do you? Paul, darling, what are you saying? When I met you, I couldn’t even believe right away that you were so perfect for me. I thought men like you only existed in beautiful books and good movies.
But no, you were real. I love you very much. Paul moved closer to the girl and took her hand.
Shoo, it’s okay, sunshine. I love you very much too. You must be bored with me? I mean, I only have a high school education.
Jess, stop it, it doesn’t matter. You’re very smart. I wouldn’t have thought you only finished school.
I read a lot. Whenever I had time, I spent it reading, Jessica said through her tears. You’ll get the profession of your dreams, I promise, Paul said confidently.
Shall we go home? Wait, Paul. I can’t leave grandma here alone. Let’s stay here with Sammy tonight.
Tomorrow I’ll call you. I’ll think about how we should live on. What’s there to think about, Jesse? We’ll take Mrs. Booth with us.
Why are you so formal, Paul? The old lady smiled and her cheeks wrinkled with crow’s feet. I’m just Grandma Mary. Got it, Grandma Mary.
Paul smiled back. Paul and Bob left, leaving the girls of different ages in the village until tomorrow. Jessica was going to sort through her things and old photos she wanted to take with her.
Granny, Jess asked before bed, where is Jack White now? Do you know anything about it? I only know he was in some clinic. His aunt didn’t say directly, but as the neighbors understood, he was in a mental hospital. I don’t know if he’s still there or not.
His aunt moved to the city, to his mother’s apartment. What happened next, I can’t say. Jessica slept very poorly.
She kept waking up, listening for something. What she wanted to hear, only God knew. Just as dawn was breaking, Jessica woke up again and realized she couldn’t fall asleep anymore.
Then the girl got up, pulled on her jeans and a t-shirt, and quietly left the house. It smelled of freshness and young greenery. Silence wrapped the village like a soft, fluffy blanket.
Her legs led Jess to the swamp, where last October she had thrown her jacket to simulate her death. The girl suddenly stopped, on the grass, at the very edge of the quagmire that shamelessly pretended to be a continuation of the forest path, sat a hunched old man. Looking closely, Jessica realized that he was not an old man, but a man worn down by life.
His hair was graying, he was thin, and a worn windbreaker. Jessica stopped behind a tree so he couldn’t see her. Suddenly she heard some indistinct muttering.
The man was talking to himself and crying. Yes, this man was crying, sobbing, and sniffling. A wasted life.
And all because of her. I wanted her love so much, dreamed of her affection, but never got it. And now what? A man with a criminal record and a certificate from a mental hospital? Why did that girl jump into the swamp? It would have been better if she had stayed alive.
At least that wouldn’t be on my conscience. Jess stood as if thunderstruck. It was Jack White.
She never would have guessed that this guy could turn into such a miserable, even pathetic person who had lost all hope for a bright future. Jack, the girl called, I didn’t die in the swamp that night. The young man turned sharply.
Horror was evident in his eyes. You came for me, didn’t you? You want me to sink into the swamp muck too, don’t you? Well, I’m ready. I have nothing left to wait for in this life.
Jack, I didn’t die, the young woman said calmly, standing still to avoid frightening him even more. Jessica Rose? Is that you? You didn’t die that evening here in this cursed swamp? But everyone said. You were declared dead.
I know, I threw my jacket in and ran to the city. I was afraid, afraid that you would kill me and my daughter and grandmother. Jack White was silent, staring at Jess and occasionally blinking his large brown eyes with dark long lashes.
I’m sorry, Jack, Jessica suddenly said, her eyes moist with tears. If I hadn’t reported you then. Maybe your life would have turned out differently.
The girl took a few steps toward the swamp. I hate her. Jack clasped his head in his hands.
I spent my whole childhood trying to earn her love, to get even a drop of her attention, but no. All she cared about was the theater and her numerous admirers. Who are you talking about? Jessica asked quietly, sitting on the grass next to him.
My mother. She never loved me. She gave birth to me because it was too late for an abortion.
She told me that herself. At first, I tried to be a good boy, studied, behaved well, listened to her and everything, but it didn’t work, Jess, it didn’t work. Mother didn’t care, having a son like that was convenient, because he didn’t cause trouble, didn’t require any special attention.
Then I changed tactics and turned from a good boy to a bad one. The school called her in, demanding she take care of her son, give him more maternal love. But how can you give maternal love if there is none, absolutely none, understand? Jessica listened attentively.