Getta placed a soothing hand on the younger  woman's brow. She trembled with every breath and shuddered with every exhale. She was filthy- dirt and grime had made home in her matted hair, within nests of twigs which itself was packed in with mud. Her dress was no prettier a sight. Her long-worn lab-coat was smeared with dried blood which Getta resisted looking at. Mud covered the back and the garment was ripped at the edges and fraying at the collar. Yet it was not her raiment or appearance that shook Gretta up... it was the state the woman was in. She lay in a partial faint- when she would lose unconciousnous every now and then. Every time she came back to her senses however, she would struggle to get to her partner so much that Gretta required assistance to help restrain her. 


*****************************

Jessie made her daily late-check round the house, checking that every thing was secure and in place before she went to bed. 
She passed the couch where she eyed a certain adolescent sprawled out in front of the television.  She shook her head ruefully and switched the blaring set off. She smiled. He'd made sure not to make a mess though- doing little things like this were his way of telling her that he cared. More junk would mean more work for Jessie to do.  Not like it was Jessie's job to clean up after him- he knew how it just bothered her seing a mess.

She dimmed the lights and gently covered him up with a woolen blanket. She got up to leave but then hesistated for a moment. She hardly ever got to see him these days. Who cares if he was asleep? She just wanted to be with him for a while.

She heaved herself down onto the sofa beside him and sat there studying his face. He seemed so tense these days... - she never knew what it was anyway. He never discussed things with her or told her about his worries. She often found herself leaving him alone in his problems since she didn't want to feel hurt when he pushed her away. 

She passed her hand over his face, faintly touching his features, casting a dim shadow. His hair was so unkempt these days- she just felt like seizing a pair of clippers and trimming it every time she inspected it. Yet, for all its unruliness, it flattered his features well. She smiled. How she loved to see those sparkly blue eyes every morning before leaving for work. But how rarely they shone. She sighed and looked at her watch. What was the point of trying to communicate anyway? She may as well get to bed if she intended to reach work on time the next day. She placed a quick peck on his cheek, and got up to leave. 

''Mom''
She turned round and smiled. He could still look like such a baby at times. There he lay, looking as helpless and unsure as the day she'd brought him home.

''Yeah, honey?''
''Love you''
She laughed lightly and ruffled his hair. 

''Love you too, Hot Shot''

Upstairs, she undressed hereself and changed into her bed-clothes. Leaning against the wall of the enormous walk-in cupboard, she closed her eyes and let the memories wash over her. A blur of pictures, indistinguishable shadows and faces, all passed her shut eyes. And one voice rang clear in her head. Her very own.
''Hot Shot''
It echoed in her mind, reverberating off the sides of her cranium and resounding clearer everytime
*Hot Shot............ Hot Shot.................. Hot Shot........*

And one voice struck just as clear through the choruses of voices.
''Ace''

Jessie sunk down to the floor, holding her head while tears welled up. She missed him everyday. And she missed him right now- more than ever. It was meant to be their 17th anniversary tonight. But he wasn't here. He hadn't come through for their love. He wasn't here to share the joy of marriage with her. He was gone.

Jonathon Quest
May his soul Rest In Peace forevermore

She rememered the sharp concise words at the funeral so well- it seemed like yesterday. She remembered the way her throat constricted everytime she heard someone mention his name- she remembered the way she wanted to kill herself right there and right then.- she remembered the way a scared Alex had clung to her leg, asking her innocently, where his daddy had gone. She remembered every detail as clear as anything. 

She also remembered the stabbing pain in her heart that still- after 8 years- hadn't faded.

She jolted suddenly as she realised there were a warm pair of arms holding her in a tight embrace. But she calmed down- it was only Alex. His arms held her protectively, yet his face was buried in the comfort of her nape. 

''It's okay mom''

Jessie smiled weakly.
''You knew what day it was?''
''Mom... I remember it every year''

She gave out a small laugh and dried the tears with the back of her hand. God knows what she would've done after Jonathan's death if it hadn't been for Alex. His childish innocence had kept her from turning suicidal- and all it took was one befuddled look.