I said nothing. I didn’t have any words.
Jessica licked her lips, avoiding my eyes.
“You know… I didn’t think it was that bad at first.
I thought you’d be mad for a little while, then we’d move on, like we always do.”
My jaw tightened.
“But then Ben left. And Mom and Dad won’t return my calls. And my friends…” Her voice wavered.
“Well, it turns out that I don’t have as many as I thought.”
She looked at me then, eyes red-rimmed and pleading.
“I don’t know why I do these things, Gina. I don’t know why I can’t just… be happy for you. I ruin everything.
And now? I’ve ruined myself.”
For the first time ever, Jessica was admitting that she was… not okay.
And for the first time ever, I didn’t feel the need to fix her.
I exhaled slowly.
“Yeah, Jess. You did.”
“Can we… start over?”
I stared at her, then shook my head.
“No.”
Jessica flinched.
I stepped closer, my voice calm but firm.
“You’ve spent years making me feel small.
Stealing what wasn’t yours. Manipulating people into thinking you were the victim. And now that you finally have to deal with the fallout,” I tilted my head.
“you want a fresh start?”
She swallowed, nodding.
I let out a quiet laugh, shaking my head.
“I spent years hoping you’d change. But I’m done hoping, Jess,” I walked to the door and pulled it open. “Now you have to live with the choices you made.”
Jessica’s face crumbled.
For a second, I thought she might argue.
But instead, she turned away without another word.
As she stepped outside, I spoke one last time.
“I really do hope you figure yourself out.”
She hesitated, then nodded once before walking away.
I shut the door, locking it behind her. And I put the kettle on.
For the first time in my life, I felt free.
What would you have done?
Source: amomama
