What We Deserve

5. JESSE

          Jesse laid in bed later that night. It had been the first night in awhile where he was able to forget and have a good time. He thought of Gwen and how easy it had been to smile and laugh with her. She was so kind, and she didn't look at him like he was a monster. Of course, she didn't know of all the terrible things he had done. 

           He knew in the back of his mind that he couldn't get too close to her or anyone for that matter. It was just easier that way. He had too many skeletons in his closet.

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          He was laying in the dirt, looking up at the blue sky. He could feel the heat on his skin from the sun and he soaked it in. He enjoyed this feeling. He shut his eyes, the sunlight burning into his eyelids.

          Then everything went dark. When he opened his eyes again, the blue sky was gone. Instead there was darkness. Once his eyes adjusted, he could see the bars above his head, and the little glimpse of the night sky through them. He could feel the cold cement underneath him, making him shiver. He sat up, his surroundings being just four cement walls. He knew where he was all too well. He looked up at the bars again, feeling panic begin to set in.

          "No..." He breathed. He hit the wall hard, pain radiating through his arm.

          A menacing face appeared above him, "Rise and shine, Jesse. Time to cook."

          Jesse bolted upright in his bed. He was covered in sweat and fought to catch his breath. He blinked multiple times until his eyes could focus. He was in his room in Alaska. He wasn't in that cage anymore. It was just a dream. The realization calmed him and slowed his breath.

          He got up out of bed and went into the bathroom, splashing cold water on his face. He didn't know if the nightmares would ever stop. They were just a constant reminder of the hell he had lived through.

          He went back to his bedroom and grabbed his cigarettes off his nightstand, making his way onto his porch. He sat on one of the plastic lawn chairs out there and lit his cigarette. As he smoked, he wished for a simple life. He wished for a way to keep the past at bay, instead of having it crash over him every night. Running away and starting a new life was one thing, but his mind would never let him forget the past two years.

          Despite his heavy eyes, he sat on the porch smoking until the sun began to rise, chasing the darkness away.

*Let me know if you guys like how this story is playing out!*