Chapter 4
1135 Words
Grayson woke up in Jessie's bed at around 5 in the morning, dressed only in his boxers. He stirred and realized Jessie wasn't in bed with him. Upon hearing voices coming from outside, he got up, quickly put on his T-shirt, and went to the front door to see what was happening. He peeked into the living room and saw Jessie conversing with someone at the front door.
"Go away; I can't help you," Jessie said firmly to the figure standing in her doorway, clutching the door to shut it. She was dressed in a long woolen cloak that almost covered her knees.
"Come on, don't say that. You haven't even heard what I need," the figure replied pleadingly. Though Grayson couldn't see who it was, he could tell it was a male voice.
"I don't care. I want you to leave," Jessie said sternly, trying to close the door. But the figure prevented her from doing so, begging, "Jessie, please."
Curious, Grayson stepped into the living room and observed Jessie closely.
"Don't turn your back on me! You're all I have in this world!" the figure said, his voice now tearful. "I'm sorry, Alex... I'm sorry," Jessie responded, her voice filled with sadness as she finally shut the door for good.
Alex continued to pound on the door, his voice choked with tears, "Jessie! Jessie! Open the door! Please don't do this to me, and I need your help! Please! Please!" His repeated banging was so forceful that it seemed the door might give in.
Jessie slumped against the door, crying. "Go away, just go," she pleaded with him through her tears. Instead of begging this time, Alex lashed out with a curse, "You f*****g asshole, I hate you."
After one final pound, Alex's footsteps were heard retreating. Jessie wiped her tears away with her palm and turned to see Grayson with a concerned expression. She felt saddened that he had witnessed the entire scene.
"I'm sorry about that," she apologized.
"Are you okay?" Grayson asked, walking toward her.
"Yeah, that was my brother. I haven't seen him in six months, but whenever he shows up, it's always because he needs money, and I'm just... I'm fed up and don't know what to do," Jessie explained, her tears flowing again. Grayson came closer and embraced her gently. "Hey, don't cry. It's alright; everything will be fine."
Jessie held on to him tightly, unwilling to let go, and he reciprocated the comfort. Grayson lifted her chin with his fingers, making her look at him through teary eyes. With a reassuring smile, he said, "I'm here for you, so don't cry. How about a drink?"
Jessie nodded slowly, and Grayson led her to the dining table, seating her down. He checked the fridge and found a bottle of whiskey, pouring two glasses. He handed one to Jessie, who managed a faint smile as she took a sip, her legs pulled up onto the chair, hugging her knees.
With his soothing voice, Grayson spoke, "Hey, Jessie, it's going to be okay." He could see the weight of her emotions, and his heart ached for her. But he couldn't help but admire her resilience and love for her brother.
Tears still flowing, Jessie continued, "I had it pretty easy. I was good in school and had teachers who helped me get into college, but Alex wasn't so lucky. Some of the homes he was put in were a nightmare."
Grayson interjected, "But that's not your fault."
"I know, but he's the only family I've got. And no matter how many times he takes advantage of me, I find it impossible not to help him," Jessie said, hoping he understood her predicament. To her, family meant standing by each other no matter what.
"You're a good person," Grayson assured her, acknowledging her compassionate nature.
Jessie's voice quivered, laden with a heavy surge of emotion that threatened to engulf her. "It was around a year ago I received that call from the police," she began, her voice carrying the weight of a memory she couldn't shake. Her fingers fidgeted, twisting a crumpled tissue as her gaze fixed on something distant yet vivid. "At that moment, I thought the worst. I thought they were calling to tell me he had passed away."
Her voice wavered as she continued, "But he was alive, just arrested," She exhaled those words as though they carried a burden she could hardly bear. Her lips trembled, and her brows furrowed, tears tracing down her cheeks like silent tributaries of her pain. "And you know what's strange? Instead of relief, a strange disappointment settled in my heart. A conflict...." She trailed off, her face contorting into a frown as tears streamed down her cheeks. "I am not a good person, Grayson."
Grayson pulled his chair closer, embracing her tenderly. "Don't think like that, Jessie. You can't blame yourself for feeling that way," Grayson murmured gently, his voice carrying a soothing cadence that wrapped around her like a blanket. "You're just angry and frustrated that despite everything you do for Alex, he doesn't change. But remember, change doesn't happen overnight; it takes time. I'm sure Alex will come around."."
Jessie looked at him, her eyes searching for reassurance. Grayson responded with warmth, "But when? When will that change happen, Grayson?" Overwhelmed, she leaned into his comforting embrace once more.
"Soon," Grayson replied, trying to infuse hope into the situation.
Within minutes, Jessie had drifted off to sleep. Grayson gently lifted her and carried her to bed, ensuring she was comfortable. He tucked her in and kissed her forehead softly. Determination filled him as he looked down at her sleeping form. He couldn't stand to see Jessie unhappy and vowed to do whatever he could to help her and her brother.
Grayson pulled his chair closer, embracing her tenderly. "Don't think like that, Jessie. You can't blame yourself for feeling that way," Grayson murmured gently, his voice carrying a soothing cadence that wrapped around her like a blanket. "You're just angry and frustrated that despite everything you do for Alex, he doesn't change. But remember, change doesn't happen overnight; it takes time. I'm sure Alex will come around."."
Jessie looked at him, her eyes searching for reassurance. Grayson responded with warmth, "But when? When will that change happen, Grayson?" Overwhelmed, she leaned into his comforting embrace once more.
"Soon," Grayson replied, trying to infuse hope into the situation.
Within minutes, Jessie had drifted off to sleep. Grayson gently lifted her and carried her to bed, ensuring she was comfortable. He tucked her in and kissed her forehead softly. Determination filled him as he looked down at her sleeping form. He couldn't stand to see Jessie unhappy and vowed to do whatever he could to help her and her brother.
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