Two Weeks Between Love and Hate

Katia jolted awake, panting heavily as she bolted upright in bed. She scanned her empty room before looking down at her clothes. Taking in deep breaths, she tried to calm herself.

“What a nightmare,” she whispered, wiping the sweat from her forehead and curling up, hugging her knees close. Images of her late husband haunted her mind, and she was unable to hold back the soft sobs that followed.

After allowing herself a rare moment to feel, Katia gathered herself with a deep breath, sniffing loudly.

“Alright, Katia, you’ve got this. Keep it together,” she murmured, giving herself a small pep talk as she rubbed her face and reached for a tissue, blowing her nose.

Suddenly, Katia heard a strange noise coming from inside the house. Glancing towards her door, she stared for a moment, trying to listen for it again.

“Jason must still be awake. I must have dozed off on him during the movie and he carried me to bed. Sure sounds like me at least,” she muttered, dabbing at her eyes with a tissue.

Slowly rising out of bed, she shed her day clothes and made her way to the closet. Standing in just her underwear, she looked through her pajamas. Her ample bosom strained against the bra she wore. Opting for a set of comfy pink silk jammies, she set them on her bed, then unhooked her bra with a sigh of relief. As her breasts were released, they landed with a heavy thud. She frowned down at her own chest.

“Uggh, they droop so much now,” she lamented.

She slid her hands beneath her breasts, giving them a slight lift. They had sagged a bit over time, but not as dramatically as she was imagining. They still had a subtle perkiness in reality. Despite this, she couldn’t shake her poor self-image.

“Frankie would probably be grossed out by me now,” she thought, her frown deepening as she scrutinized her body.

Having Jason home had made her acutely aware of her age. Being almost forty-five felt more like a century. Shaking her head, she pushed those negative thoughts away for now. There was nobody left for her to impress, anyway. Glancing at the wedding ring she still wore every day, memories of her late husband flooded back. Deep down, she knew Frank was the type who would still adore her body, flaws and all.

Leaning her head back, Katia fought the urge to cry again. Clenching her teeth, she struggled against the emotions, allowing only a single tear to escape.

“Keep it together, Jason might still be awake… Maybe I can make him a snack before he goes to sleep?” she said, trying to distract herself.

Spoiling her son had been, and always was, the best way she found to keep her grief at bay. And there was very little that the boy liked more than food. Glancing at the alarm clock on her bedside table, she saw it was only about ten PM. It seemed more than plausible that Jason might still be awake at this hour to provide the distraction she desperately needed. Once she had her silk pajamas on, she made her way out of the room and peered down the hallway. The only illumination came from a small night light in the kitchen, ensuring it wasn’t completely dark for anyone navigating their way to the kitchen.

“Odd...” Katia said standing still for a moment, she heard muffled voices. “Maybe it's burglars!?”

With her imagination running wild, a tinge of fear crept into her heart. She needed Jason even more now. Her big, strong son would scare them off for sure and keep her safe. She knew she lived in a safe neighborhood, but anything could happen. As she neared Jason’s room, the voices became clearer. Her fear vanished quickly as she realized the voices were coming from inside his room.

Still, she slowly approached the door. “What are you doing, Katia? Are you seriously planning on listening in on your son? Shame on you!”

Katia ignored the inner self scolding her and pressed her ear against the door. There were definitely two voices in there. “God, this feels so wrong, so wrong, so...” Her thoughts were interrupted by a sudden awful noise that sounded like someone gagging or choking. “Oh god, he’s choking!?” Panic seized her mind.

Hand on the knob, she was about to open the door, only to hear a distinctly feminine voice call out breathlessly.

“Fuck… it’s so huge,” it said, followed by heavy, labored breathing.

Katia froze, her hand instinctively flying to cover her mouth as she realized her error. Jason had company in his room, and judging by the sounds, it wasn’t hard to guess what was happening. With utmost caution, she stepped back from the door as silently as possible, her heart racing. Her thighs clamped together, she glanced down at her trembling legs.

“Tea, I need tea,” she silently whimpered. Racing down the hallway, she darted into the kitchen, rifling through the cupboards until she found a box of nighttime tea mix.

Katia hurriedly put a pot of water on the stove, hoping to distract herself from the noises she had just heard coming from her son’s bedroom. Despite her best efforts, her attention starved body reacted with a strange tingling sensation in her loins she hadn’t felt in ages.

“Come on, boil faster,” she pleaded with the water. Finally, it reached a rolling boil, and she poured some into her mug, adding two tea bags. She hoped that if she could just fall asleep, she wouldn’t have to dwell on what was happening with her son. After steeping her tea for a short period, she blew on it a few times before taking a sip.

“Ow!” she recoiled after burning her lips and tongue on the still scorching-hot liquid. She let out a small whine, frustrated by the undrinkable tea before her.

Moving to the fridge, Katia got an ice cube from the freezer to put into her tea, hoping to speed up its cooling process. Cup in hand, she settled at the table.

“He is his father’s child, after all,” she muttered, letting out a groan as unsettling thoughts flooded her mind. Covering her face with her hands, she slumped forward, trying to shake off the mental images that plagued her.

Katia needed something, anything, to distract from her current thoughts. Even if it made her sad, so she focused on what she thought of most. Her late husband, Frank. He was a ruggedly handsome man with jet-black hair, a physique honed by military discipline, and a strong work ethic. Despite a slight gut from indulging in his wife’s cooking, he carried himself well. His thick beard was always neatly trimmed, and his dark gray eyes resembled storm clouds, both unique and captivating.

“Why, why, why!” she grieved, gripping her head for several moments. “If Frank was still here, I wouldn’t even be in this situation!” Eventually the images of Frank won out, much to her relief. But now she had another problem.

Katia let out a soft groan as memories of her husband flooded her mind, recalling how he looked when he was still healthy. Thoughts of their frequent trysts in the bedroom, of his delightful size and shape. Just thinking about it made her bite her lip, a mix of longing and sorrow washing over her. She missed him so much that every day without him was an unwinnable struggle.

The year leading up to his passing had been incredibly tough, witnessing his gradual decline from the strong, capable man he once was, to stuck in a hospital bed that he would never get out of. He poured every ounce of energy he had left into his family before passing. Even now, almost thirteen years later, the pain still lingered, sharp as ever when it came to her mind.

Katia grit her teeth, as she attempted once more to push back the waves of sadness and loneliness that had plagued her for so long, but it was a battle she could never seem to win. Tears welled up in her eyes, trickling down onto the table. Suddenly, the sound of the fridge opening in the kitchen caught her attention, and she sat up in a surprised jolt.

“Jason?!” she called out instinctively, thinking it was her son.

“Holy shit!” the mysterious figure said as they jumped with a surprise when Katia spoke up suddenly.

Even before they turned around, it was clear they weren’t Jason sized.

“Katia?!” a feminine voice asked, approaching slowly and becoming more visible in the dim light.

“Jillian?!” Katia exclaimed in return.

They locked eyes, both caught off guard. “Uh, sorry. Didn’t expect you to be awake... I just came out for a bottle of water, and... I uhh...” Jillian started to ramble nervously.

“It’s alright.” Katia reassured her, wiping her tears quickly with her pajama sleeves. “I’m sorry for scaring you dear,” she said, trying to smile at the red-head

Jillian stood there, feeling super awkward. She hadn’t expected to bump into Jason’s mom so late at night. Looking back over at her, even in the dim light, she could see Katia’s eyes were a bit puffy.

“Umm are... you okay, Mrs. Merris?” she asked, gazing at the woman sitting at the table. Katia tried to give a reassuring smile.

“Oh, yes, I’m okay. I just couldn’t sleep, so I thought I’d make some tea to help me drift off.” The air was filled with the strong scent of chamomile and spearmint.

“I see,” Jillian replied, not wanting to pry.

“That’s a lovely nightgown you’re wearing, by the way,” Katia said, trying to change the subject.

Looking down, Jillian first saw her nipples standing at attention from the cold, barely hidden by the sheer fabric and lace bra. She quickly folded her arm over her chest and chuckled nervously.

“T-thank you. I actually stole it from my mother, to be honest.”

Katia giggled slightly at Jillian’s confession.

“That does seem like Ginny’s style.”

The two shared a small smile before Katia spoke up again. “Would you like some tea?” There was a brief silence between them before Jillian answered.

“Umm... sure.” Some warm tea sounded a lot better for her rather sticky throat than cold water at this point.

“Please sit down. The water should still be hot, so it won’t take long at all.” Picking up her mug, Katia walked over to the stove and grabbed another mug from the cupboard above.

Jillian nodded and awkwardly settled into her seat, relieved that the dim lighting softened her appearance. She felt like she might scurry away if the lights were on, like a startled cockroach. At least Katia didn’t seem too angry at her.

With the memory of their text exchange coming back, she realized they hadn’t exactly parted on friendly terms. Now she was caught basically fooling around with her son! She glanced down, fidgeting with the hem of her top.

“Why the hell didn’t I grab my hoodie before leaving the room? Katia isn’t so dense as to think I am dressed like this for a friggin’ slumber party. Ugh,” she chided herself silently. It was a lesson learned the hard way, one she wouldn’t easily forget.

Soon, Katia placed a mug in front of Jillian. “Here you go, sweetie,” she said, settling into a seat nearby with her own mug of tea.

They sat quietly for a while until Jillian spoke up, still sounding a bit formal. “Mrs. Merris...” She paused, as Katia was taking a sip of her tea.

“Yes?” Katia said eventually, curious about what was on the young woman’s mind. Given that it was pretty obvious she had been in Jason’s room.

“I’m sorry about the message I sent you... I was angry and not thinking clearly.” Jillian’s words caught Katia off guard, and her mouth fell open slightly in surprise.

“What? Why are you apologizing, dear? It was my mistake that caused such a misunderstanding in the first place. I should apologize to you,” Katia blurted out, causing Jillian to look back at her in mild shock.

“Mistake?” Jillian asked, confused slightly.

“I never should have been saying stuff like that in the first place, and then I made the mistake of not clearing it up with you before you two had that big fight!” Katia blurted out all her feelings about it right then and there.

Jillian just sat there, listening until she was finished. “I did think it was a little strange that you would tell me all that, then say nothing the next day,” she chuckled a little, taking another small sip of her tea, the warm liquid soothing her sticky and bruised throat.

Katia blushed and glanced away, letting out a slight sigh. “...I’m sorry, dear. I just saw how well you two were getting along and I felt like I could help in some way. It was so foolish of me to overstep like that. I discovered more painful memories that night as well… I wish I could explain more, but I don’t think Jason would forgive me if I did,” she said sadly, staring down into her tea with a frown.

Jillian quickly caught on to what she was implying, understanding just what painful memories she was talking about.

“I am glad to see that things seem to be better now, though. I was a little worried. He seemed a bit off at dinner,” Katia said, trying to smile again, but her face refused. Her thoughts were back on the awful things that happened to Jason.

Jillian just gave a small nod as a question came to mind. “Katia... Can I ask you something?” she asked the older woman suddenly.

“Huh? Well, of course, sweetie,” Katia replied, finally smiling at Jillian with the change of subject.

“If Jason and I started dating... would you be angry?” Jillian’s question caught Katia off guard.

“What? Why would I be angry? Jillian, dear, you’re wonderful, you would be a...” Katia started, but Jillian raised a hand to stop her.

“I appreciate your words… but. There’s something you should really know about me.” Jillian took a deep breath, not sure how to start this conversation.

“Hehe, oh Jillian, I understand. You two are consenting adults, and I won’t interfere with whatever you’re doing,” Katia quickly interjected, cutting Jillian off before she could respond.

“Huh?” Jillian asked, perplexed by Katia’s sudden remark.

“Um well you see I... I, uh... I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to overhear you two. I was just walking down the hall and when I passed by Jason’s room, I...” Katia trailed off, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment as she looked away.

Jillian blinked a few times, trying to make sense of what Katia was implying. When it finally dawned on her, she felt her own cheeks grow hot.

“Oh... um, that...”

She decided then, that this definitely wasn’t the time to confess that she was Jason’s highschool bully to his mother, especially now that it sounded like she overheard her sucking him off. Jillian covered her face in shame, wondering just how much Katia had heard.

Katia reached over and placed her hand on Jillian’s shoulder. “Oh, sweetheart, I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to make you feel uncomfortable or shame you for it. I’m not upset, I promise.” She tried to comfort the redhead sitting beside her, scooting closer and draping an arm around the petite woman.

“I know. It’s just really embarrassing having you hear us like that. I’m sorry, Katia, I was probably too loud.” Jillian apologized, letting out a sigh as she lowered her hands from her face and took a longer sip of her tea.

“Please don’t be, dear. It’s natural for people your age to show they care for each other that way. It's just hearing you two, it made me a bit… well it kind of reminded me of my late husband. And well… “ Katia said, still trying to comfort Jillian by rubbing her back softly.

Jillian looked over at Jason’s mom with a soft smile. “I’m pretty sure my mom and dad… Well, my dad for sure would never look me in the eye again if they had heard what you did,” she laughed weakly, and Katia joined in.

“You know, Ginny can be quite the character sometimes. She once told me this crazy story about her and Damon...” Katia began, but Jillian quickly interrupted with a raised hand.

“Thanks for trying to cheer me up, but please, I’d rather not dive into my parents’ sex life. Living with them gives me more exposure than I prefer being a few doors down from them.” Jillian gave Katia a weary smile, who chuckled softly.

“I don’t doubt it. Those two seem like quite the active couple. I think it’s sweet,” Katia said with a smile, removing her hand from Jillian’s back.

“So, what about you, Katia? Any special someone in your life that we don’t know about?” she asked innocently, but immediately regretted it as she saw Katia’s expression darken with sorrow.

“I...” Katia paused, withdrawing her hand from Jillian’s back.

She nervously toyed with her wedding ring, a nervous habit when she was forced to deal with her own intimacy issues. The ring seemed to repel most men, except for a few unwanted advances. Anyone willing to pursue a married woman wasn’t her type in the first place. So the ring only kept away the men she might be interested in, creating a cycle of loneliness.

“No, I can’t say there is,” she admitted softly.

Jillian glanced at the busty, beautiful, mature woman beside her. If someone like Katia was single and struggling, something was very wrong.

“I know it’s not really my business, but... Is there something holding you back from putting yourself back out there?”

Katia frowned deeply, her fingers twisting the ring even more.

“First off, you don’t have to respond to this if you don’t want to, but I have to say it – you’re fucking gorgeous, Katia. I would kill for a body like yours, instead of whatever funhouse mirror I stepped out of. Seriously, you could have any guy you wanted,” Jillian said in a completely serious tone. She only then noticed the faint sparkle as tears welled up in Katia’s eyes at her words.

“I don’t want any guy... All I ever wanted was my Frank,” Katia confessed, her voice trembling with emotion as barely contained memories flooded back.

Jillian’s expression softened, and she gently pulled Katia into a comforting hug. She returned the embrace, finding some solace in Jillian’s warmth.

“I’m sorry for getting so emotional. It’s not fair to burden you with my feelings. It’s been so many years, and here I am, still the same old mess,” Katia apologized.

“Hey, you don’t have to apologize for anything,” Jillian reassured her. “Even if it’s been years, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt. Grief doesn’t have a timeline. You obviously loved Frank deeply. It makes sense that you would take much longer to move on. I am sure you won’t ever truly forget. I think grief is just part of how we remember those we lost.” Her rant went on for a bit, but Katia nodded in agreement.

She still couldn’t help but feel a bit of guilt for grieving, especially when Jason was home. “You know, Katia, it’s okay to fall in love again. I didn’t know Frank, but if he loved you half as much and you love him..I think he would want you to be happy,” Jillian offered gently. “You’re still young and sexy. Girl…you are wasting your po-ten-tial,” she said with a light clap of her hands between the syllables.

Katia couldn’t help but smile. “Oh, well I guess if a young sexy girl is saying that I am, then maybe I should start taking it seriously.” They shared a laugh before Jillian continued.

“That’s right you should! You don’t look a day over thirty, if that. Honest to god,” the young redhead leaned back, meeting Katia’s gaze.

“I think one of these days, you, my mom, my friend Mika, and I should have a girls’ night out. We grab some drinks, hit the dance floor, and drive some boys crazy,” Jillian said, sounding serious with a smile. Katia chuckled softly at the idea.

“That does sound nice. I haven’t danced in ages. Ginny and I have been talking about going out for a while now. But it's so troublesome getting someone to watch your youngest siblings.” Katia said, still smiling as they discussed the plans to go out.

“How does next weekend sound? We can rope Jason and June into babysitting at our place,” Jillian suggested with a mischievous grin.

The two newfound friends chatted away about their upcoming girls’ night out, gossiping like they were old girlfriends. When they finally started wrapping it up, Jillian threw a curveball at Katia.

“Hey, promise me something? Start trying to leave your wedding ring off from time to time. Just to get used to it and to see who’s out there. I’m not saying you need to date anyone. Just see who is interested. I think you will be surprised,” Jillian said with a small smirk.

She knew Katia needed that push. As far as she learned tonight, Katia’s heart still belonged solely to Frank, the only man she’d ever been with and slept with. He’d swept her off her feet when she was young and he was a loyal and hardworking man, unlike many that were around these days.

Jillian was a bit surprised when Katia said how young she was when she and Frank started dating. There was no way their relationship would have worked in this day and age. Especially considering how things could easily blow up with social media being what it is today. But Frank was old fashioned and had been upfront and honest about courting her, with the intent to marry. Never once did he stray from that goal. It didn’t keep Katia’s family, who was rather well off from getting super pissed, though it did little to stop their love for one another.

“Alright… I will certainly try,” Katia said, agreeing to at least try to go without it every so often.

“That’s all I am asking and if it ends up going poorly, nothing is stopping you from putting it back on.” Jillian said, smiling as they continued to sit and talk.

With their tea finished, they were both feeling a bit drowsy, especially considering it was now past midnight. Jillian let out a big yawn before speaking up.

“Well, I think it’s time for bed.”

Katia nodded in agreement, stifling her own yawn.

“Mmhmm, that tea certainly helped,” she barely mumbled out.

It wasn’t until that moment that Jillian came to the realization that it would be incredibly awkward to walk back into Jason’s room with Katia awake.

“I, uhh, suppose I should… head on home then.”

She got up from the table, smiling at Katia weakly. Still glad they got a chance to talk one-on-one and clear the air. She wasn’t actually going to leave, planning on simply sneaking back in through Jason’s window.

Katia looked up at Jillian, her eyes wide with surprise. “Is Jason not letting you stay over? After what you two did?!” She seemed almost offended at the idea.

Jillian hesitated for a moment, struggling to find the right words. “I... um...” She paused, trying to think of the right words.

Taking her hesitation as confirmation, Katia stood up, anger burning in her eyes. “How rude! I’m going to have a word with that boy right now!” But Jillian quickly interjected, raising her hands and placing them on Katia’s shoulders to stop her from going anywhere.

“No, no, he didn’t tell me to leave! The opposite, actually. When I asked if I could stay, he said he wouldn’t have it any other way! It was very sweet, I promise,” Jillian said in a bit of panic.

Katia’s anger quickly seemed to dissipate, and she blushed slightly. “Oh... Well, why did you say you were going home then?”

Jillian laughed nervously.

"Haha, I’m sorry, it was just a bit awkward. I was a little worried you would be upset if you thought I was sleeping over," Jillian said, while Katia shot her a look that screamed, “Seriously?”

“Jillian, you’re always welcome to stay here whenever you want, no matter what Jason says. We can just have a sleepover if he has an issue,” Katia joked with a small giggle, making Jillian laugh as well.

“Thanks, Katia, that’s really sweet of you, but, uh...” Jillian started, but Katia cut her off with a raised hand.

“Don’t worry, I understand. I’m just glad Jason’s got someone like you in his life now. Maybe now I won’t have to hear him bad mouth women anymore. He constantly tells me how annoyed he gets with some of the women he works with,” Katia said, with a soft laugh. Even though she understood why Jason did, it was painful being a woman herself and listening to him rant sometimes.

Jillian knew all too well how blunt Jason could be with women he didn’t like. She had no intention of going back to dealing with that side of him. Though hearing that he was being harassed by the women he worked with made her eyes narrow slightly, she might have to make her presence known the first chance she got.

“Those skanks better not even think of touching my man.” Growling internally, Jillian tried to keep a calm expression for Katia. “I’ll do my best, but I won’t tell him to stop saying things that will keep the other girls at bay. Maybe give him a new excuse, though,” Jillian said with a smirk.

The two hugged tightly and exchanged cheek kisses before saying their goodnights.

“Sleep well, Katia,” Jillian said as they parted ways at Jason’s door.

“You too, dear, good night,” Katia replied before walking into her own room and closing the door.

Jillian stood outside Jason’s door, wondering if he was still awake. She’d been chatting with his mom for a lot longer than she planned. She slowly opened the door, and peeked into the room more and more till he came into view. There he was, sitting on the edge of his bed, hunched over, clutching her hoodie. He stared at it like it held all the answers.

“Fuuuuuuck,” she groaned silently. “He probably thinks I lied to him to sneak out,” She bit her nail, watching him, looking all cute and pitiful like a sad puppy. She couldn't deny that he looked adorable right now. Though the hint of anger on his face scared her a little.

Jason lay in his bed, lost in thought about Jillian. As time went on, anxiety slowly crept into his brain. After nearly an hour passed, he decided he was done waiting. Something felt wrong and he couldn’t just lay there anymore. He threw on some boxer briefs and left his room.

The hallway was dark and quiet, with no sign of Jillian. His first thought was that she might be in the bathroom, so he made his way across the hall and knocked on the door softly. There was no light under the door, but he called out quietly, anyway.

“Jillian, are you in there?”

There was no response, and Jason’s heart suddenly felt like it fell into his stomach. That familiar feeling crept back in, making his bones ache.

She was gone.

He clenched his teeth, trying to hold back his emotions, and took a deep, shaky breath. Roughly pushing through the door, he entered the bathroom. Splashed his face with cold water several times before staring up at the mirror, the room lit by only a small night light.

Abandonment, guilt, shame, the feelings finally making sense to him. He couldn’t put a finger on them before, but now it just made so much sense. They were feelings he had almost become used to at this point. Not that it made it any more pleasant. He flexed his hands, trying to work out the ache in his joints.

Staring at himself in the mirror, he couldn’t help but feel the next wave of emotions wash over him.

“Why are you sad, you idiot?” he muttered to himself. “You dodged a bullet. She was nothing but trouble and left before things got too serious. You even got a blowjob out of it before she ran off. You should be feeling relieved, dumbass,” he talked to himself in a weird, self-soothing manner. But the frown on his face remained solidly in place.

“So why do I feel so fucking terrible then…”

Lowering his head, he grit his teeth and clenched his eyes shut.

“Damn it…. I didn’t even want the stupid fucking blowjob…” he admitted quietly to his reflection.

“Why would she open up to me so much, then leave? Was it all a lie?...I even told her what happened to me….” His frown turned into more of a scowl as he straightened up and grabbed a towel to dry his face. Exiting the bathroom, he stomped back to his room, feeling even worse than before.

Somehow, he resisted the urge to rip the door off its hinges as he walked in. He sat down on his bed and slumped over, staring blankly at the floor. He then saw something on the floor, reaching down, he picked it up. His scowl deepened even more as he held Jillian’s hoodie.

His fists clenched around the fabric. Jason couldn’t help but think about the last time Jillian left it behind. Did she expect him to return it to her again? Was that the game she was playing? Was he just a dog to her, one she could play with and tease whenever she got bored?

The mix of anger and sadness swirling in his mind was almost enough to make him scream. He brought the hoodie up and buried his face in it. letting out a long groan of frustration into the fabric. He sat there in silence, trying to think of a reason she would do this.

“Jill...Why? Did I do something wrong? Did I miss something? Please, just tell me! I just want to understand why you left after everything you said. After what we shared, why would you leave?” Emotions beginning to overwhelm him, he let out a loud sniff. His lips twisted into a scowl, anger quickly replacing his emotions. But he wasn’t even angry at her, he was more angry at himself for letting himself feel like this.

Jason used the hoodie Jillian left behind to wipe his face.

“I’m pathetic.” He hated himself.

Jason sat on the edge of the bed, switching between checking his phone and glaring at the hoodie in his hands. He waited anxiously for answers, but as another half-hour slipped by with no response, he felt his mind growing weary from overthinking. His eyes were dry from staring for so long, and he was on the verge of giving up.

”Fine, if that’s how you want to play it, Jill. Then..." he murmured, trailing off as he realized he had nothing more to say.

A strange emptiness settled inside Jason, and he slumped forward, looking at the hoodie with half-lidded eyes.

“Umm, Jase?” A gentle voice interrupted his thoughts.

“J-Jillian...” he whispered back at the hoodie.

Great now he was losing his grip on reality and imagining a piece of fabric was talking to him.

“I’m fucking losing it.” He whispered, placing a hand on his face and letting out a groan.

“You aren’t real, she’s gone, snap out of it Jason,” he told himself.

“Are you alright?” the voice said again, sounding so real that it was almost comforting.

Closing his eyes tightly, he attempted to banish the auditory hallucination he was experiencing. He refused to let Jillian be the one to break his sanity after all this time. Clenching his jaw, he dropped the hoodie and covered his face with both hands.

“Jase, please talk to me?” Jillian pleaded.

She slowly moved in front of him and kneeled down in front of him. Her hands grabbed his wrists in an attempt to pull his hands away. His eyes shot open at the touch.

“Come on, please. You’re starting to scare me,” Jillian whimpered, her frown deepening. Jason let her pull his hands away from his face. Her blue orbs, just barely visible in the fading moonlight, stared into his eyes.

“You’re... you’re back,” he stammered in disbelief.

“Jason… I never left. I ran into your mom in the kitchen, and we talked for a lot longer than I expected. I’m sorry I didn’t think to tell you sooner,” Jillian’s voice carried genuine regret at seeing how distraught he had become when he thought she had ditched him. It was obvious he’d started to assume the worst while she was away.

“My mom?” Jason raised an eyebrow, a bit puzzled by the explanation.

“Mmhmm, we kinda got lost in our conversation and time got away from me. Honestly, I didn’t mean for it to happen. It was a mistake and I’m really sorry, I can make it up to-“ Jillian pleaded, trying to move closer to him.

Jason interrupted her by placing a hand on her shoulder and moved her back to an arm’s length away as gently as possible.

“Jason…why?” Fear crept into Jillian’s eyes as she searched his face for a clue why he was stopping her.

“Fuck,” was the only thought that came to her as she felt like she was about to cry.