Jessie's Letter

Jessie wasn't waiting for him when he returned home. Her room was empty. His mom was nowhere to be seen, either, though that suited him just fine.

The lonesome gloomy house reminded him of the years he'd spent all alone. An old lonesome anxiety threatened to kick in, so, like a dog waiting for its owner, he sought out his newest refuge.

He childishly his beneath her sheet as if their thin backdrop could shield him from his own fears.

You’re not the only person in the world who needs fresh air to deal with their problems. In a few minutes she’ll come back, and you’ll get under this sheet together and figure out what needs to be done to foil that man’s disgusting plans.

Imagining the tiny warmth of her huddled against him calmed him down enough to think rationally.

I’ll just call her and let her know I’m ready to talk whenever she is.

When he dialed and heard the muffled sound of a ringtone somewhere in the room with him, the fuzzy feeling brought on by his imagination felt more like cactus needles pricking his insides.

It was when he investigated the source of the noise and located her phone inside her magic drawer that his eyes fell upon the letter.

Reading it would make it real, but he had to know for sure.

Mr. Photographer,

As of tonight, I'm resigning as your model and leaving home. I’m doing this mostly for my own wellbeing, but a little bit for you, too. I’m really scared that you’ll go to the cops and end up in a lot of trouble if I stick around, and I can’t stand the thought of your life being ruined because of me.

Besides, in the end we’re still brother and sister. Things never would have been easy for us if we tried to have a real relationship. We’ll both be happier this way, in time.

Please try to understand that this isn't your fault, and I’m so grateful for the time we had together, but even a leech can drink its fill. Maybe someday a few years down the line, I’ll find a way to get back in touch with you, and we can start over for a third time, as regular old siblings again. I’d love to meet your and Ophelia’s kids someday.

If I can be a little selfish, can I ask you two favors? Don’t be too hard on Mom. She never helped me, but she never actively hurt me either. I can’t claim to know what goes through her head, but I really don’t think she was ever okay with what Dad was doing to me.

And lastly... get out of there. Go find your place in the world and be the best photographer you can be. How cool would it be if I open a magazine someday and see a picture of Ophelia credited to you, Mr. Photographer? Just don’t live at home much longer. I don’t want you going apeshit on Dad and getting yourself locked up.

I hope to see you again some day. Take care of yourself Leon, because you mean an awful lot to me.

So long for now,

The Leech Nun from Hell.

And just like that, Jessie was gone. Her final attempt at levity didn't cushion the blow. Three days of pure bliss, and then it ended even more abruptly than it started. He was back to where he was when when he first got Cammy, and that truth made the anger of the night swell up in him until he deflated as the reality of the situation hit him.

“Cammy!” he shouted.

Yes, Leon Marshall?

“Teleport me to Jessie, right now.”

Jessica Marshall is not in danger, and as such, you may not teleport to her with the current strength of your Soul.

“I don’t care! Just do it!”

I cannot.

“Do it Cammy,” he whispered hoarsely.

I apologize, Leon Marshall.

“What the hell are you even good for!?” he shouted, and chucked his camera at the wall with all his strength. The impact made a loud sound, but the camera rebounded to the floor without a scratch on it.

Rushed footsteps came down the hall towards Jessie’s room, and then an urgent fist pounded against her door.

“Jessie? Don’t do this. Don’t stay!” Holly shouted through the door.

It was time for him to face his mother, and he already knew he wouldn’t be able to fulfill Jessie’s request.