Chapter 12
Spring arrived slowly,
melting the heavy snow into rushing streams,
and coaxing tiny,
and beautifully fragile green buds from the bare branches.
Jessica decided it was time for a fresh start,
a physical representation of their completely new life,
so she began to redecorate their small house.
She painted the dark walls a bright,
and incredibly cheerful shade of pale yellow,
bringing the warmth of the outside sun,
directly into their quiet living spaces.
She bought new,
and wonderfully soft floral curtains,
and hung bright pieces of modern art,
replacing the old,
and depressing family portraits she used to display.
Emma helped her plant a large vegetable garden,
digging eagerly in the soft,
and completely dark brown dirt with her small hands.
They planted rows of sweet red tomatoes,
and crisp green cucumbers,
and tall,
and completely proud yellow sunflowers along the fence.
Buster,
who had grown significantly over the last few months,
ran happily through the wet grass,
occasionally digging a massive hole,
and getting his paws entirely covered in thick mud.
Jessica would chase him around the yard with the hose,
laughing loudly,
and completely ignoring the small mess he made.
She was learning to let go of her strict perfectionism,
a trait she had developed as a desperate survival mechanism,
when she lived under her mother's highly critical eye.
It was okay if the house was a little messy,
it was okay if the dog tracked mud on the floor,
because they were finally living a real,
and completely authentic life.
One sunny afternoon,
while Jessica was weeding the flower beds,
a sleek black car pulled slowly into her driveway.
Her heart skipped a tiny beat,
a ghost of the old fear rising quickly in her throat,
as she stood up and brushed the dirt from her knees.
She watched cautiously as the driver side door opened,
but instead of her dreadful mother,
or her incredibly toxic sister Vanessa,
it was her old college friend,
Sarah.
Sarah had moved away years ago,
and they had slowly lost touch over the incredibly difficult years,
but now she was standing right there,
smiling brightly,
and holding a large basket of fresh muffins.
I heard you were finally free,
Sarah said warmly,
walking across the green lawn,
and wrapping Jessica in a massive,
and completely genuine hug.
Jessica hugged her back tightly,
feeling a sudden rush of happy tears,
pricking painfully at the corners of her eyes.
Word travels fast,
Jessica joked softly,
wiping her eyes with the back of her dirty hand,
and inviting her old friend inside the bright house.
They sat at the kitchen table for hours,
drinking sweet tea,
and talking endlessly about everything they had missed.
Sarah listened without a single ounce of judgment,
as Jessica poured out the entire painful story,
of the ultimate betrayal,
and the final,
and completely necessary estrangement.
You did the right thing,
Sarah told her firmly,
holding her hand across the wooden table,
you saved yourself,
and you absolutely saved your beautiful daughter.
Jessica nodded her head slowly,
believing those powerful words completely,
and feeling a renewed sense of profound strength.
She was rebuilding her entire support system,
replacing the toxic blood ties,
May you like
with chosen family,
who truly loved and respected her.
