Kansas Summer

Jenna's Story

-------WARNING---------

Contains GRAPHIC CONTENT!

DISCLAIMER: AUTHOR WARNED YOU

It was February 26 when Jenna walked out of the hospital for the first time since that chilly January evening that changed both of our lives.  I held her as she feebly fumbled out to the taxi I had called for us.  We were going home, but only one of us was staying.

“I’m just so scared, Colin.  I ran away because I felt judged by everyone.  It’s such a small town, and rumors just start so quickly.”

“I know, Jen.”  I kiss the top of her hair.  “It’s going to be difficult for both of us.”

“Nobody has seen either of us in three years, except my parents.  I’m sorry; I did hear that your dad passed away.  I forgot to say anything to you.  You probably don’t want to hear any more about it.”

“No, I’ve come to terms with myself about my dad.  Who I’m worried about is you.  I don’t want you to lose yourself.  Doctor Randolph says that you’re unstable right now.  Are you sure you want to do this?”

Jenna slowly nods her head.  We sit in silence for five minutes through the agonizingly slow ride.  Even though Midway Airport is less than ten miles away, there is a lot of traffic, and our journey takes longer than it should.

“You haven’t told me a lot about what happened to you after I left you in Denver,” I whisper to Jenna, “Perhaps you could tell me about it?”  I hope that my question doesn’t unnerve her.  Like I expected her to, she turns pale for a second, but returns herself to normal in a few moments.  She leans over to my ear.

“I’ll tell you on the plane.  I don’t want to discuss it here.”

We don’t converse at all except to share what flavor of ice cream we want before we get on the plane.  We board our plane to Denver without a word, and sit through the safety briefing, taxi, and takeoff before Jenna shares her story.  I imagine that she is thinking of what she has to say.  It has to be quite a lot for her, and I know that I am causing her a lot of stress, but I must know.

Finally, Jenna turns her head to me.  “Do you want to know?  Really know?”  I nod.  Jenna sighs deeply.  “You can’t tell anyone.  Anyone.”  She leans her head back on the headrest.  “It all started when Madeleine and I went downtown to see the lights on the Seine.”

“The day was May 23, 1998.  I had been in France for five days, and I hadn’t explored much of the actual city of Paris; Madeleine’s family was outside of Paris in Orsay.  We’d spent much of the days prior together, touring around the general vicinity on foot.  I enjoyed the Université there, although I don’t know how much I really want to go back there anymore.

“However, that evening, Madeleine convinced her famille to let us go alone to the city.  They thought it was a fantastic idea, and gave us clairvoyance to spend as much time in the city as we wanted that night, as long as we were back on the last train.  Madeleine was excited beyond anything I’ve ever seen in my life.  Before this, she spoke her French slowly so I could comprehend it easier, but while she fantasized about our little excursion, I had to remind her to slow down.  It was difficult though.

“We left her house at about 3:00.  It was a nice walk to the train station, and a nice short ride into the city of Paris.  We disembarked at the Gare de L’Est, and I was in awe.  I had never seen a busier train station or one so full of history or beauty.  I had little time to admire my surroundings; Madeleine dragged me off to explore other things.  The sun wasn’t near setting, so we had plenty of time to explore.  First, we ate at Madeleine’s favorite crêperie, and I must say that it was delicious.  I asked her what we were doing to spend some time, and she replied that she wanted to go to Montmartre.  There were many vendors and shops at the top of the hill, she told me, and that from the Sacré Cœur, the best views of the city at sunset were to be had.  So off we went.