Jess was running wildly. She stumbled and fell somewhere but didn't realize where. Maybe she was hurt and bleeding. But the heart's wound was the biggest of them all. How could someone stop that organ from bleeding? She was crying immensely. Tears wetted her face and toppled their way down through her chin to the neck where hung a small but intricately designed locket.
"This locket is to show the love we embrace in our hearts for each other. To my friends forever and ever." she heard little Rossie's chirping sound echoing in her head.
"Why would you say so, Ross? Why would you bring up the biggest trauma of my life onto my face like that? You were my fiercest protector. When did this pride turn into hate? Why?" she sat in front of an old house located mostly on the outskirts of the town. She was sitting on the damp ground with her knees close to her chest. Weeping, she laid her head onto her knees. Memories of all her childhood flashed like a film on her mind screen.
The three of them were born and brought up in Blueball. Always together, even their families had eminent relations. They went to preschool together and were the great secret keepers of one another. Shared everything. Loved each other like sisters.
Jess was not from one of the elite most families of Blueball. So, most of the time, Jess, during mid-school, was treated hatefully by other students. They taunted Jess stating her family was living as refugees in their town.
"You and your good old bro, Jones, are nothing but trouble in town. You dirty freaks! If I had the authority, you would not have even been able to breathe in this town, let alone dare coming to our school, you nasty being! Hmph!" said Phil Macasky, the son of Deputy Eric Macasky. He was about to throw more filth out of his mouth when suddenly Ross emerged from somewhere behind Jess and stood in between Jess and Phil, almost like a shield defending Jessie.
"Watch your word, boy! You have no authority and will have none in the future cause people like you do not deserve it. Now, get yourself going, or else I have to use other ways to tackle you." Ross said, folding her sleeves as if here he said a word, and there she smashes his nose. But, before Ross executed any act, Phil gave an intense look and turned off.
It wasn't just Phil. In fact, every student in EastHill knew Ross' strength. She was a well-known threat not only by her personality but also by her background. And all this strength always proved quite beneficial for Jess, the loner girl against all the hatred in school.
But those days were past. Right now, Jess was sitting, hugging her legs and crying her eyes out. She was completely unaware of how much time passed by or what was going on around her.
However, she ended up at a peculiar place unintentionally. She was sitting next to the wall of the old house. It was the house of Mrs. Marrison Landy. She was an old woman whose husband during a riot that broke between civilians and fishermen during the faded times. Since then, she has been living in this cottage of her husband all alone. Except that, Jess, Ross, and Emma used to visit her and play all around her house. It was a place where Jess and her friends usually came in search of solace and peace.
Jess remembered everything. All the days she spent with her besties, all the fun they had together. Jess didn't bother anyone saying anything to her. She knew she had her supporting arms that won't let her fall. Even during one of her life's most painful setbacks. The day when her parents left Blueball. That was the harshest day of Jess's life.
Jess used to live in her house with her elder brother Kyle, her parents Emily and Steve Jones, and an orphan servant boy named Saffet. Their family was happy. They had everything that a small yet, happy family required. However, things never really remain constant. The morning of 25th August dawned pretty harsh for everyone. Jess was 10 years old, and her brother was 13. It was Jess' 10th birthday when in the morning she heard some rattling noises from downstairs. She came down to have a look when she saw two men in long black overcoats carrying heavy luggage bags standing with her parents. The situation kind of seemed severe. It did not take too much time until her mother, Emily, realized Jess was standing on the stairs, a little disconcerted.
Emily pulled a small part of her husband's sleeve and caught his attention towards Jess. Steve, then, quickly instructed something to those two men in black and sent them away. Now, both Emily and Steve headed towards Jess. They stood in front of Jess and smiled lovingly.
"Happy Birthday, my love!" Emily sat on her knees in front of her daughter and kissed her forehead with great affection.
"You know I don't really like birthday greetings, Mama! I don't feel like it's something to be happy about because you just ended another year of your short life," said little Jessie.
Although, she sounded a bit concerned about the way everything was happening. Her subconscious was telling her that something was wrong. But her underaged brain could not figure out what.
"Oh, my little philosopher! You are just like your dad, aren't you? Adorable yet smart." said Emily and again kissed Jessie's cheek. She was speaking as if hardly trying to maintain herself from shattering into tears.
"Mama! Baba! What's happening? Who were those two guys? Why are you so dressed up? Why do I suddenly feel so insecure? Please say, something, Baba! Why is Mama crying?" Now that Jessie spoke up, she was very anxious. She could see her mother hiding tears.
"Jessie darling, come with me." Steve held her daughter's hand and made her sit on the couch. He sat on his ankles before her, keeping his hands on her lap.
He affectionately pressed her palms inside his hands and said,
"My brave little girl! I and your Mom, we are going through tough times. But you need to be brave now. You should develop the strength to face the world. Your mother and I won't be able to stay here with you anymore. We are leaving Blueball."
And when the 10-year-old girl heard those words, she thought her heart stopped pumping blood, her eyes opened widely. Jess knew the feeling of when someone close to your heart leaves you.
"What happened, Baba? Why are you saying this?" saying, Jess slid a little towards the corner of the cushion she was sitting on.
"I will come with you too. I will not let you and Mom leave me. I don't wanna be alone, Baba. Please don't do this." Jess started crying and hugged her father as she said these words.
Steve patted Jessie's back to calm her down. He knew it would be hard. However, it was essential.
He held Jess by her shoulders and brought her face in front of his. He said,
"Listen up, Jessie! I trusted you. I thought you were Baba's brave girl. Are you trying to prove me wrong? Are you trying to break my trust?" Jess, with the slightest of strength she had said no, moving her head left to right. Seeing her daughter responding, Steve took courage and wiped Jess' tears. And then continued,
"Good. That's like my girl. Now, you need to stop crying. Okay? Mom and I need to leave now. Your Big-B is about to arrive with the car we need to go to. But before we go, you have to make a promise to me."
"Anything you say, Baba," Jess said amongst hiccups.
"Promise me that you will always hold onto your brother. Whatever the problem is, your Big-B will always have the solutions. He will have answers to all your questions, and he will provide you with them as you grow. So never ever leave Kyle or hide anything from him. You understand, my love?" Steve said with a combined feeling of fear and hope.
"You know I love you more than anyone in this galaxy," Steve said with a sad smile.
"I love you more than anything in this universe, Baba!" Jess exclaimed and hugged her father. She was heartbroken, but she was her father's Brave girl. She needed to be courageous.
Kyle brought the car, Steve instructed him to. Jess didn't know where they were going or when they would return. She stood at the door with Saffet. Jess was too small to ask for answers to her worries. She stood there, watching the same scene once again. Seeing her loved ones leave her all alone without reasoning.
Before leaving, Jess's mother approached her. With tears in her eyes, she smiled at her sobbing daughter. Wiped Jessie's tears.
"We will come back to you. We are not leaving you alone, my dear. We will always be here with you. All our preachings will be here." Emily said, pointing her first finger towards her chest and then head.
"In your heart and brain. You will not cry. You will not fear. You will never think inferior about yourself. A person's biggest weapon is his self-esteem. Only your thoughts about yourself shall influence your life. And always hold onto your brother. He is the most precious relation in your life." Emily explained to her daughter the life preachings a mother can give to her child with a simple smile. It was time to say goodbye. It was time to face another massive change in life. It wasn't easy. But it was life.
Jessie was engrossed in her painful thoughts when suddenly she raised her head as she suddenly felt a hand squeezing her shoulder. An old woman was standing beside her with a pleasant yet caring smile. On seeing Jessie attentive, the old woman bent upon her and said,
"Come on in, child! You might catch a cold. It's getting late, and the climate is breezy. Come, I will get you a hot chocolate!"
The old woman smiled at Jess with all love and care.
Jess looked around. It was really getting late. The sun has set. Slight rays of dusk were covering the sky. The darkness of night was continually fading the sun rays. Birds were returning to their nests. Darkness upon darkness and the light was fading.
Summer was approaching, but the harshness of cold winter nights was the same. Jess crossed her arms and scrubbed her shoulders to gather warmth. She was back to her senses once again. The past was gone, and she returned to the present. But the present wasn't so pleasant as well.