Scene Ten
488 Words
The door burst open.
He's here.
Jessie walked in shutting the door behind him.
He saw Leigh sat in a corner, her knees held tightly to her chest trembling and sobbing quietly.
In swift movement he was by her side, hugging her close to his chest.
"I'm here now, everything is gonna be fine" he assured.
Leigh nodded, unable to talk.
"I'm so sorry, this is all my fault" Jessie said.
He carried Leigh bridal style and placed her gently on her bed.
"Leigh look at me" he held her face in his hands.
"Breathe in, slowly with your mouth" he paused "Now breathe out slowly with your mouth again" he continued after Leigh breathed in.
"Do it again, in and out slowly with your mouth" Jessie ordered.
Leigh practiced Jessie's breathing step slowly and steadily.
"I'll go get a washcloth and cold water. Okay?" He asked after Leigh began breathing properly.
Leigh nodded.
"Count backwards slowly from 100, Okay"
Leigh nodded.
Jessie leaned in and placed a light peck on her forehead before walking out the room.
99,98,97,96
Leigh turned to the other side of the room and saw Jessica was fast asleep. She sighed in relief thankful Jessica was a deep sleeper.
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Seeing Jessie made her feel better. He always made her feel better even though she would never admit it to his face. She remembered how bad things were for her when he first left for college. How her depression consumed her entire self.
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She remembered how she tried committing suicide multiple times. How Jessie had always been the one to stop her from doing the worst.
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She remembered his words to her. His soothing words.
"Everything is going to be okay"
"You're a good person"
"Its not your fault"
"You're not a burden"
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Tears fell uncontrollably from her eyes. She was tired of everything. Tired of what she went through and was still going through. Tired of how her fears kept on eating her alive.
Her greatest fear and biggest enemy.
Herself.
******
Jessie walked back in and knelt down beside Leigh's bed.
"I'm here Leigh. Nothing bad is gonna happen" he comforted, dipping the washcloth in the bowl containing cold water.
"Everything will be just fine" Jessie said cleaning her face with the washcloth.
Leigh sobbed quietly.
"I'm tired Jessie" she croaked.
I'm tired.
He knew those words and the meaning they held. The two words she says before doing something stupid.
"Shhhh don't say that, you know I'll always be there for you. You should go back to sleep" he wiped her tears with the washcloth.
"I'll be here. I promise" he held her hand.
"You'll stay?" she asked, her voice hoarse from crying.
"Yes Leigh" he kissed her forehead.
"I promise I won't let anything happen to you Leigh. You'd be just fine" he said, stroking her hair.
Leigh heaved a sigh and drifted to sleep.
- Writer
