Lissy is gone.

Fallout- rough draft v1

I awaken to find the bed next to me empty. The comforting warmth that usually fills the space where Lissy sleeps is gone, replaced by cold, untouched sheets. A faint aroma of cooking wafts through the air and I instantly recognize it as Lissy's handiwork. It's a small relief, a sign that she's alright, but the emptiness next to me is a stark reminder of everything that's changed overnight.

I slip out of bed, pulling on a robe as I leave the room, eager to find Lissy and check on Natalie. As I walk towards the living room, I notice Natalie slumped in her chair, her head resting on the table, the dim light from the laptop illuminating her tired face. A finished de-program sequence is open on the screen. I make a mental note to wake her after I've checked on Lissy.

The kitchen is empty and there is no sign of Lissy. A feeling of unease begins to gnaw at my insides, but I push it away as I notice a note left on the table, next to a breakfast that looks too good to be made by anyone but Lissy. The note is short, but the message it holds leaves me stunned.

"Need time to figure myself out. Please don't come looking for me. I'll reach out when I'm ready. -Lissy"

The words are a punch to the gut. I've barely had time to process them when I hear Natalie stir behind me.

"Jas? What's going on?" Natalie asks groggily, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

"Lissy left," I manage to **** out, handing Natalie the note.

Her eyes scan the note quickly, a look of shock flashing across her face. "I...I can't believe it," she murmurs, her gaze falling on the untouched breakfast. "I need to fix this.. how can I fix this if she's not here Jas?!" She asks not expecting an answer, which is good because I don't have one for her.

For a long while, we just stand there in the silence of our kitchen, the uneaten breakfast a painful reminder of the consequences of Natalie's actions and my inaction. Despite the breakfast being an appetizing sight, neither of us can bring ourselves to touch it. It remains there, untouched, a testament to the mistake we've made and the negligence that allowed it to happen.

Author's Note- POV change to First Person Jasmine to emphasize her being fully her, not her Jer mask and not the version of Jasmine that was a result of Natalie's tinkering. Let me know how that worked out, if it aided the dynamic shift or if it detracted from it.