Chapter 56 Falling Apart
Grace, clad in her pajamas, came walking over and stopped dead in her tracks at the sight of Jessica.
“Jessica? What are you doing here?” Grace asked.
Quickly, she noticed Jessica was drenched through, her hair a messy tangle.
"Come in, quick," she told Jessica.
Once Jessica was inside the house, Grace quickly fetched a bath towel and wrapped Jessica up, briskly drying her drenched hair and the rain that soaked her clothes.
"You girls chat. I'll head out!" Quentin Taft was perceptive enough to know when to leave, and after saying that, he took his leave.
It wasn't until he was gone that the tension in Jessica's body began to ease.
She threw herself into Grace's arms, breaking down into a fit of uncontrollable sobs. "Grace, I feel so awful. I don't think I can hold on much longer."
"What happened?" Grace asked with immediate concern. "Did Gabriel do something to you again?"
Jessica just leaned into Grace's embrace, too exhausted to say another word.
They stayed in the living room, and the television was still on. Grace turned down the volume, and Jessica rested against her, silently watching the screen.
She didn't cry anymore, but she wasn't speaking either. Silent as a well-behaved doll. Watching her, Grace's heart ached beyond words, and inwardly she cursed Gabriel a thousand times.
After a long while, Jessica finally lifted her pale face toward Grace. "Grace, I'm so cold. I need a hot shower."
"Okay, stay here. I'll go run the bath for you," Grace said as she got up and headed towards the bathroom.
"Mhm." Jessica nodded.
In no time, Grace had the bath ready and had picked out some clothes for Jessica. As Jessica headed to the bathroom, Grace's worry was evident. "Jessica, let me stay with you."
Jessica shook her head. "It's fine, I can manage on my own." She craved solitude, a moment to herself in utter quiet.
Inside the bathroom, steam shrouded her like a mystical realm. The warmth was just right.
Jessica looked at the bathtub, didn't bother undressing, and stepped right in, immersing herself fully. The water was warm, enveloping.
Eyes closed, Jessica did not hesitate, not even for a moment before plunging into the tub, letting the water levels rise past her shoulders, her neck, and then her face until she was entirely submerged.
The buoyancy of the water made her feel as if she were floating, her hair spreading out like tendrils in the deep darkness of the abyss.
It seemed only here could she let go, just drift, and indulge in the luxury of being utterly herself.
No pretense, no hiding, just the honest truth.
When her head emerged from the surface, Jessica gasped for air, reaching to wipe away the droplets from her face.
A little salty, a little bitter. At that moment, she couldn't even tell if she was crying.
Outside the door, Grace stood to one side, silently waiting. She didn't dare pace back and forth, worried the movement might add to Jessica's stress.
Nor did she venture away, sensing that Jessica wasn't doing well and fearing something might happen if she left.
After twenty agonizing minutes, Grace's anxiety got the better of her. With hesitation, she finally knocked, "Jessica, are you done in there?"
A full minute passed before Jessica's voice came through, "Yeah, almost ready."
Another eight minutes ticked by before Jessica emerged in pajamas. Grace sighed in relief at the sight of her. All the suspense had nearly scared her to death.
But in a flash, she noticed the flush on Jessica's cheeks and touched her forehead in concern, "Your face is so red. Do you have a fever?"
"No, I think it's just from the steam in the shower; I was in there a while," Jessica denied, dismissing the thought that she might have caught a cold.
Grace accepted this explanation, thinking it made sense, so she didn't dwell on it.
That evening, Grace stayed with Jessica right up until she fell asleep. Only then did Grace turn off the lights and leave the room.
What Grace didn't know was the moment the door shut, Jessica's eyes snapped open, her gaze lifelessly fixed on the ceiling.
She felt terrible and utterly wretched. For some reason, she just couldn't cheer up.
Mouth agape, she practiced her "eight-tooth smile" that she had once trained so diligently to perfect. Again, and again—eight, ten, many times—and yet it wasn't effective.
She couldn't smile; it seemed like she had forgotten how to.
Joy and sorrow were basic human emotions! Such simple things, yet why couldn't she grasp them?
Unwilling to accept defeat, Jessica persevered. Despite countless attempts that left her face stiff, she couldn't muster a genuine smile.
If the heart withered, it seemed a true smile couldn't bloom—just like leaves were bound to yellow when the roots died.
Accustomed to erratic sleep schedules due to her acting career and late-night shoots, Grace was a night owl. But considering Jessica's condition, she set multiple alarms and woke up early.
"Jessica, breakfast is ready. Time to get up," Grace said gently as she opened the door.
However, she froze at the sight of the empty bed. Jessica was gone. Stepping further in, she noticed a small note on the nightstand.
The note was from Jessica, penned in elegant and tidy handwriting, “Grace, thank you for letting me crash at your place last night. Feeling much better now. I know how tough filming can be, so make sure you get some rest and don't worry about me. - Jessica.”
Grace instantly called Jessica after reading the note.
But no one picked up.
Jessica had intended to head straight home to study. In a week, she had an upcoming interview at a nationally renowned hospital. It was the very place she had set her heart on.
It was the pinnacle she had always strived to reach, and as such, she knew she had to give it her all, no excuses allowed.
This hospital was also where Giselle had once worked, albeit as a per diem nurse with modest pay and less-than-stellar benefits.
As a child, Giselle would often say, "Jessica, if you have a passion for medicine, focus on your education. Aim for a position at my hospital someday. Look at those doctors and professors – saving lives, healing the wounded, bringing patients back from death's door.
"I greatly admire that; it had always been my aspiration. Unfortunately, I never had the chance, but I hope you can become a revered doctor.
"And with such a stable job, you won't have to wander or be without a home. When you are part of the system, you'll have security in your old age. That would give me peace of mind."
So, as it was for Giselle, as much as for herself, Jessica was determined to do her best.
But as the saying goes, life is what happens when you're busy making other plans. On her way back, Jessica suddenly felt an intense headache and a wave of dizziness.
She had felt a bit feverish the night before, likely from getting caught in the rain, but hadn't taken it seriously until now when all the symptoms pointed to one thing – she had caught a cold, and most likely, a fever was setting in.
Thinking of her baby at once, Jessica instinctively placed her hand on her belly.
