In the past week, Jessica had slowly come to learn the real reason behind her aunt�s uncharacteristic visit. As usual, her aunt had strategically played all the right cards, making her visit appear like an act of kindness. Jessica had known all along though. Her aunt was far too transparent. She didn�t have a caring bone in her whole body.

Jessica couldn�t say she had been surprised when her aunt had finally revealed the reason behind her unusual visit. In fact, she had forced herself to feign surprise when the truth left her aunt�s lips. Her visit hadn�t been provoked by feelings of sadness or worry as she had tried so desperately to convince everyone. She was a woman on a mission and this was merely an opportunity-seeking excursion spawned by her desire for one thing. That thing was their house.

Her aunt had set her sights upon the house long before Jessica�s father had bought it. Unfortunately at the time, she hadn�t been able to procure sufficient funds to buy it. Needless to say, she had been insanely jealous when Mr. Turner had purchased it. Now, her aunt�s financial situation had finally improved and she was in a position to buy the house if it were up for sale.

In her various attempts to cajole Jessica into selling the house, her aunt had used every tactic of persuasion imaginable. She had even been bold enough to claim that �Your mother wouldn�t want a young girl like yourself staying alone in such a big house.� Each word was spoken with a nauseating smile and in a soft, seemingly concerned tone.

Despite the incessant tugging of her heart and the willingness of her mouth to scream out �Yes!�, Jessica had so far refrained from giving her aunt an answer. Her silence was due in part to the fact that she was quite leery of the daunting task of looking for a new place to live.

A week after it had been asked, the question still loomed in the air. So far, Jessica had been rather successful in steering clear of her aunt, whom she was certain would be poised to attack with a new, overlooked reason why the house should be sold.

Today however, after finalizing her plans last night as to where she was going to stay after vacating the house, Jessica was finally ready to face her aunt. She walked down the stairs surprisingly calm and collected, cringing only slightly this time as she saw her aunt�s usual pretentious, smiling face.

�Good morning Jessica,� her aunt drawled snidely. �If you don�t mind, I�d like to talk to you.� Her voice was smug as she aware that the ever-polite Jessica would never refuse.

With a defeated sigh, Jessica slowly turned around clenching her fists as she attempted to remain composed. Taking a seat across from her aunt she asked �What did you want to talk about?�

Her aunt smiled demurely but nevertheless wasted no time at all. �Have you made a decision yet?�

There was a slight pause before Jessica quickly answered �Yes I have. I�m selling you the house.� Her words were strong and clear, but even as they left her lips, Jessica was surprised at the confidence in her voice.

Clutching a box filled with an assortment of things she had somehow managed to forget, Jessica gazed around her room. There was absolutely no remorse in her gaze her eyes wandered the room. To say that she was sad to be moving would be a blatant lie. She couldn�t wait to get out of this house of horrors, the sooner the better.

With a sigh, Jessica exited the room, making her way to the staircase. Somehow, she didn�t feel as though she were leaving. It was hard to believe that after so many years, the house was no longer hers. It didn�t have that unusual, bare feeling as houses typically did when they were being vacated because it was still furnished. Much to her aunt�s delight Jessica had refused to take any of the furniture along with her. She didn�t want to have anything to do with things her mother may have touched, used or even just been near.

As she descended the staircase slowly, her eyes scanned the house absorbing every detail for the last time. Much to her chagrin, almost everything she laid eyes upon reminded her of her mother and the painful tortures that she had endured to over the years. Suddenly, Jessica couldn�t get out of the house fast enough.

Jessica picked up her speed, clutching the box dearly. As she moved, her mother�s voice seemed to resonate throughout the house. As if in protest, Jessica squeezed her eyes shut desperately trying to banish her mother�s angry voice from her thoughts. Her attempts were unsuccessful however because immediately upon closing her eyes, visions of her mother�s scowling face leered back at her. Quickly, Jessica snapped her eyes open anxiously making her way to the door.

Her hand on the doorknob, she suddenly froze as the realization hit her. The moment she walked out of the house, her whole life would change. The tears, screams and beatings would all be non-existent from now on. Happiness and love were the only things that awaited her on the other side of the door, especially since she had decided to move in with Nick. A small smile played upon her lips as she thought about it. It had initially been Nick�s idea, but Jessica had quickly agreed. After all, it was in both their minds, the next logical step.

The smile still upon her lips, she turned the doorknob determinedly and without so much as a look back she stepped out of her past and into her future.

By the time Jessica finally arrived in front of Nick�s door that evening, juggling a heavy box in either hand, she was completely exhausted. Tiredly, she kicked the door loudly with her foot, alerting Nick of her presence. She waited anxiously for him to open the door, the boxes suddenly becoming increasingly heavy. Jessica kicked again, silently willing Nick to hurry before the boxes slipped out of her grasp and their contents toppled all over the floor. When the door finally opened a minute later, a snide remark was on the tip of Jessica�s tongue. She bit it back in haste however as she took in Nick�s appearance.

Nick was impeccably dressed in a stunning black suit. He wore a crisp white shirt which was purposely left slightly unbuttoned at the top giving him that casual yet sophisticated look. His perfectly combed hair was offset by his amazing blue eyes which seemed to shine brilliantly as he looked at her. �Let me take those,� he whispered in her ear, leaning towards her. His cool, masculine cologne tatalized her nostrils, instantly intoxicating her in the process. Carefully, Nick took the awkward boxes from Jessica�s hands placing them on the floor with ease.

As he did so she gazed around the room soaking up every detail of her surroundings. The lights had been considerably dimmed and the room was now softly lit by two candles upon the dinner table which had been romantically set for two. A bottle of wine was chilling in the centre two covered silver dishes next to it. Jessica could faintly hear the tinkling of soft jazz music in the background.

A smile upon her face, she turned back to Nick and was completely caught off guard as he produced a large bouquet of beautiful red roses. �For you,� he whispered handing them to her with an exaggerated flourish, which prompted a giggle from her.

Jessica took the flowers from him, eagerly burying her head in the bunch as she inhaled their scent deeply. �They�re beautiful Nick,� she whispered.

�I wanted to do something special for you on your first night here,� Nick told her as he shyly gestured about the apartment.

�Thank you,� she whispered her eyes shining.

�Welcome home Jess,� he whispered softly in her ear as the distance between their bodies closed and their lips met. The kiss started slow and tender but its intensity soon deepened. As Nick continued to kiss her passionately, Jessica knew she was finally home and this time it was for good.

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