The Greens of Jericho

Another excellent chapter Skyrose!

I love how you always intertwine scenes that have such specific personal development for characters with scenes that show us things that have implications for the bigger picture.

I liked the development of Heather's character here as she prepared to take a big step forward in her relationship with Jake. I have to say I really liked the exchange she had with Olga. It's nice to see a friendly face in Cheyenne, reinforcing that although it's a dangerous place where the people responsible for so many deaths are still in power, it's also a city populated with many people who haven't lost their humanity.

Chavez's trip to the farm was very intriguing. Kind of creepy, in a way. You've captured very well, I think, the atmosphere of a place where everyone is overly enthusiastic on the surface, so much so that I can't help but feel an undercurrent of uneasiness.

I really liked the showdown between Eric and Gray. Eric is so in character- true to his convictions, trying so hard to fill his father's shoes and protect the town, and finding it just out of his control. I feel for Gray, just a little bit. I think he really believes he's doing the best he can, and is completely lost. Too bad he had to accept defeat instead of asking for help earlier.

I enjoyed reading this, and can't wait to see what happens next!

Great chapter, Skyrose!

I liked the way you captured this moment in Jake and Heather's relationship, in the aftermath of their first night together, this important step for them. You write a sweet, somewhat idealistic (in a good way!) dynamic between these two very different characters, as they begin to share a life.  

I also really liked the scene you gave us back in Jericho. I loved seeing the community (well, some of our favourite community members) and how they are coping while our heros are in Cheyenne. I liked the details, like Sam's drawings, Stanley and Mimi's kitchen-rearranging inside joke, Allison finally getting to be a teenager as she makes friends and finds a place in the community, and I chuckled over Darcy's knowing something that Gail is not two steps ahead of, for once.

I look forward to the next part!

Great chapter!

I think as I mentioned in the earlier parts of 13, I enjoyed seeing the Cheyenne crew and the people back home converging in these phone call scenes.

A few of the highlights I really enjoyed in this part:

"You going to milk a cow, Dee?"

Darcy couldn't help but laugh. "Really funny, Rob. Tell you what: I'll milk a cow the day you go on a turkey shoot." She smiled to herself as she pictured the corners of her husband's mouth turning up slightly when she heard the amused chuckle on the other end of the phone. It made her heart jump just a little.

 "Who would have ever thought . . . our city boy on a farm. I hope he likes it better than camping."

This really makes me chuckle. A great comment on the Hawkins family and their slight bemusement at the adaptations they have to make after being transplanted to rural Kansas. We often seem to notice Mimi not fitting in I think, but the Hawkinses too are from the city and this reminded me of the little bits of humour we sometimes saw from them on the show as they observed the small town people and their customs.

I also in general love how you put a spotlight both on the Hawkins family and on the relationship between Hawkins and Darcy. I think you've captured both their seriousness, their sense of history together, but also the sly sense of humour they share.

Heather looked between her friend and the man she was going to marry, "All right, boys, I'm off to the kitchen. Try not to miss me too much."

"You know I will, but go ahead anyways," Jake replied bringing Heather in for a quick kiss before letting her go.

"Oh, I think we can manage," Chavez said. He clapped Jake on the shoulder.

The dynamic between the three of them is cute and funny. Though I do feel for Chavez throughout. He of course reacts in a way anyone who's ever been an odd man out around a new, crazy in love couple will understand, but he's also able to joke and be good natured. I like the energy you give Chavez, how you capture him being funny, maybe a little more impulsive than Hawkins, and with a warmth.

I also like the scenes with the back and forth between those in Cheyenne and those at home. I like how you highlight the different contributions of the group - I get a sense that what Eric is doing, what Mimi is doing, and of course, what Darcy is doing is a valuable contribution. One of my favourite themes of the show was how the group of townspeople contributed various things according to their abilities and talents, towards the goals of surviving. I like how you have a bit of that going on here, on different levels.

Also, I like the idea of strawberry shortcake, post apocalyptic style!

I enjoyed this and look forward to the next part!

Sandra, this is a great beginning and I'm glad I finally have the chance to try and catch up on this story!

I really liked the way you characterized Heather and Eric. You did such a fantastic job of capturing this bizarre situation they find themselves in: these two rules-followers suddenly becoming New Bern's top enemies. I love the conversation between them- Heather trying to stay upbeat, Eric thinking about Mary, despite and because of the dire straights they are in. I think that's how people might react in a situation like this in real life. They're doing what they can to survive until the next moment.

 You also did a great job writing the scene at Camp Liberty. I knew what was coming, but the way you wrote it, I could see it all from Heather's perspective. Nice work!

Really interesting contrast here between Emily, and her inner conflict over her friends and people she cares about, and Heather having to be 'interrogated' by the officials about her nightmarish experience in New Bern. I think in some ways, they're both caught up in these moments where they are trying to steel themselves, to put up a bit of distance between themselves and the situations in front of them.

I think you've captured Emily's character well. I often don't really sympathize with her, but I think you've shown her as someone who is understandable, with human flaws. You take us through her thought process. I do really feel for her here:

Yet she could not make herself go inside.

You’re being ridiculous, she chastised herself. This is your best friend. You should be beating down the door to see her! For pity’s sake, she was going to stand up for you at your wedding! You’ve worked with her side by side for the last three years. Just take that step.

Yet she could not make herself go inside.

You’re going to have to face her. You’re going to have to tell her sooner rather than later.

And still she did not go inside.

Emily stood for a few moments longer watching people enter and exit the building before tucking the textbook under her arm, burying her hands in her back pockets, and walking away.

The refuge she's taking in Jake- that had seemed simple and normal- is about to become more complicated.

I loved the way Heather holds her ground during the 'debriefing'. Especially the fact that she tells Beck to sit. I really liked this line:

Heather nodded, and then realizing an audio recording was being made, added a vocal affirmation. “Yes, I was caught. Rule #10: Never be afraid to get your hands dirty. That rule applies to fixing cars and sabotaging neighboring cities’ munitions factories.”

She is someone who has lost a lot of innocence in a short amount of time, but she has held onto her sense of self. I love the contrast between vulnerability and strength you've given her here.

Excellent chapter.

Wow- quite the range of emotion you cover here. I was really drawn into it all thanks to your well-chosen words.

I loved the reunions in the first half: Heather with first Charlotte (and everything her old truck means to her) and with Eric. This made me laugh:

 Jake leaned against the side of the dilapidated vehicle. He wasn’t particularly surprised that the truck was still there. Half the people in town were afraid to get near it for fear it might explode. That, and the fact the gasoline had already been siphoned out of its tank made it clear the truck wasn’t going anywhere. “Just waiting for you to get back.”

I think you even do a great job capturing Charlotte's character!

I also want to comment on your excellent use of humour throughout this story. The way you blend it seamlessly with complicated emotional moments- it gives the story a really realistic tone, I think. I want to point out this line:

How many times had he heard Jimmy start with, “Well, Mayor Green used to….” before Gray would cut him off? He hated to hear that almost as much as “We’ve got a problem,” Jimmy’s other favorite line.

It's not that you're spoofing the show, or even really an inside joke...it's just that sometimes the characters have an almost-awareness of things that I'm sure most of us in the audience are very aware, and it's really funny. Well done!

The reunion between Eric and Heather was emotional, intimate, and just how I would have liked to see it on the show. It's funny- when I watched the season two dvd, I realized that Heather and Eric have had almost no scenes together, in the entire run of the series, yet offscreen, they've been through so much they really should have an interesting relationship. You've done a really wonderful job developing it here. I especially loved that Eric invites Heather to stay at his place too, and Jake tries to intervene, like he's aware that he's somewhat out-of-the-loop in this moment between these two friends.

Equally intense to that scene was the scene between Eric and Gray. Though as an audience member I'm probably naturally inclined to take Eric's side here, I could really understand what was motivating both of them. They both seem to have a lot at stake, and I liked the way you drew this chapter to a close with them finally beginning to grudgingly listen to each other.

 Another great chapter!

The scene between Heather and Jake, awkwardly trying to navigate the upstairs hallway, was funny. You capture that tense, so-many-things-unsaid atmosphere so well. I liked this line:

“No, I don’t mind. It looks better on you anyway.” The words tumbled out before Jake could stop them. Rein it in, Green.

I can really see their relationship progressing just the way you've described it in this story. They're drawn to each other in a sort of unconscious (or sometimes conscious) way, but they fight it whenever they realize it, for their own reasons.

I liked your version of the Heather-eats-a-burger scene, with a funny conversation among the members of the Green family and her. I really liked this line- there's so much humour but also a serious undertone:

Heather Lisinski was convinced she’d fallen in love as she chewed on her hamburger, savoring its flavor. Everything about it was perfect, from its fresh lettuce to the slightly smoky taste of the beef. Even the bun. Who’d have thought hamburger buns could be so delectable? The condiments only added to the burger’s perfection. The complement of onion rings and a glass of tea—with actual ice!—rounded out the meal.

Made me laugh, but also a profound thing, to consider what you used to take for granted. Growing up, I had these friends who visited my family every summer, and since they live really far north, beyond the road line, they didn't get a lot of fresh produce. It always amazed me to see how much they enjoyed the hamburger buns we'd have at our barbeque. They would say that the buns that were flown into their community were always really stale. I think sometimes these simple details can remind us just what we have (and would be especially meaningful in the post-bombs world of Jericho).

I understood where Emily was coming from here- and I really did feel for her when I read that she had been going from place to place, making quite the effort to find everyone else and not being able to find anyone. I know it's really Jake who had the chance to avoid the terrible way both Emily and Heather have to find out about their respective new arrangements with Jake. (Though I think you understand Jake really well- it seems like something he'd do.)

Still, of course, I was annoyed with Emily. I can't pretend otherwise. This is a Jake/Heather story, after all. But I did want to say that you handled all three characters so well. Emily is sympathetic in this scene, because it's easy to understand why she does what she does. She's conscious of the threat posed to her by her best friend, and feeling guilty for that, and understandably annoyed by Jake. So while I don't really want to see her succeed (as far as her hopes to be with Jake forever are concerned), I do feel for her. I really got that this was a painful scene for all involved. Oh, and I really liked this line:

Heather slid out of the booth, and Eric watched, grimacing. It was evident from the look on her face just a moment earlier that Jake never did get around to having that talk with Heather about Emily.

But now Eric was stunned to see Heather smiling brightly as she and Emily embraced.

For as long as he lived, he would never understand women.

Funny, and true.

The scene between Heather and Hamilton was a good contrast to the Jake/Emily conversation. Also, I really liked that Mary acknowleged her gratitude for what Heather did for Eric. It's kind of funny that Heather is linked to the Green family primarily because of Eric now and not Jake.

As usual, you've done an excellent job creating a scene in which all the characters have complicated motivations and interactions with each other.

 Another wonderful chapter, with quite the journey, starting with Heather's dreams about the dead and ending with a difficult realization brought about by an imtimate conversation between friends.

Interesting how Jake disturbs her sleep, whether she's hearing him getting up at an ungodly hour or he's haunting her dreams.

I liked the inclusion of Hawkins in this chapter, bringing with him the big picture that Jake (and Heather) are already stumbling across, highlighting how urgent it is that they start acting. I think you've captured his grim sense of humour- I could picture him saying the things he says here.

I really liked all the details in the way Jake and Heather interacted throughout this chapter: Heather 'teaching' Jake about water heaters, him holding the wrench 'hostage', the truths they choose to reveal and those that they skip over. I especially thought Jake's story of Nasim was interesting. In telling her about him and the other children, he's both revealing an intimate part of his past and, I think, finding a connection to her world through her hopes and fears about her former students.

Your version of the Jake-tackles-unidentified-New-Bernian-with-gun scene was great. I realized where you were going just as it happened, and was completely immersed in the scene, wondering what the outcome would be (even though I should have had a reasonable expectation of what would happen). I guess what I'm saying is, your retelling was well done, so I was interested in how the characters involved would react and what they had at stake. And I thought it was really intriguing, how you gave both the assailant and would-be victim reasons for their actions and reactions. It made me reconsider what I thought I'd known about the first time I'd seen that scene.

I thought it was really interesting the way you gave us a picture of how everything in town was working, through Heather's quest to find one particular item. I liked the glimpse we got of Dale here- and the backstory you establish between him and Heather. As I may have mentioned before, I love the ensemble aspect of Jericho, and was always curious about how all the characters who didn't have many scenes together would interact.

The scene where Heather goes to her old classroom was so bittersweet. I imagined, as I read it, how strange it would be to return to this place where her old life if seemingly perfectly preserved. How sad, and yet, how unexpectedly great it would be to find the 'treasures' in the closet. This scene really got me.

The scene with Emily was, um, interesting as usual. I think you've captured both characters so well, as always. You do such an excellent job balancing everything that is happening, all the things that they are thinking and saying. Especially as, I think, they both begin to realize exactly what is going on with the other, and each manage to convey something without flat-out stating the truth. They're subtle. Very much the way things happen between friends in real life.

I liked Jake trying to start and drive Charlotte. At first, I thought this line was funny :

Emily watched as Jake left, puzzled by his reference to Heather’s truck as ‘she.’ It wasn’t like him. Even when he used to fly airplanes, when his eyes used to light up as he recounted his in-air maneuvers, Jake never referred to a plane as though it were a person. No, that sounded more like Heather.

Though it also made me feel for Emily, in a weird way. In fact, throughout this chapter, I was torn between my usual annoyance with her and feeling very sympathetic to her. She's so human, really. She wants Jake and everything he seems to promise to bring back to her, but she's recognizing (and trying to pretend she doesn't) that many things have changed and no matter how hard she may try, things between Jake and her will never be exactly the way she wants/remembers them to be.

“Are you staying in Jericho long?” Emily asked, hope in her voice. Lieutenant Hamilton might’ve been just what the doctor ordered for Heather. Emily had to admit that he was very handsome, albeit it a little too clean cut and straight-laced for her preference these days. But there was something about him, a quality she couldn’t quite pinpoint, that she found very appealing. And he definitely seemed to have taken an interest in Heather, for which Emily was delighted. If Heather could find happiness with him, that would be perfect. And if Lieutenant Hamilton would help Heather to get her mind off of Jake, then that would be the icing on the cake.

A few moments earlier, she's realized how Heather feels about Jake (though Heather herself may not fully realize it), and here she is, hoping that the situation will be fixed by Hamilton so that she can be happy for her friend and not lose what she sees as her own chance for happiness. As Hamilton guesses, she doesn't really seem to understand her friend's feelings and wishes, and I think she doesn't want to, out of self-preservation. But she is blindly hoping Heather can be happy anyway. It's a difficult place to be in, and I did feel for her. To a point. I just felt bad for Eric after this line:

Emily continued with a waggle of her eyebrows, “Eric would get so mad because he’d hear us in there and couldn’t sleep. He’d knock on the wall and threaten to tell their parents that I was with Jake. Johnston and Gail were progressive parents in many ways, but that was not one of the ways.”

I loved your introduction of Michael Flaherty. He seems like an interesting character, an interesting part of Eric's backstory, and I loved his pet name for Jennings and Rall. As usual, I love the way you write scenes between Heather and Eric. Here's a line I loved:

Eric shrugged. “Damn. See, this is the problem with being convinced you’re going to die in prison. You tell all your deep dark secrets, end up making it out alive, and then—bam—you get blackmailed.”

You always show both Eric and Heather holding onto their senses of humour as they deal with everything that they've seen and experienced (and maybe even as a tool to help them deal). I love that they also try to deal with their own problems by reaching out to each other and trying to fix the problems they see in the community. This line was so heart-wrenching:

But as she’d spoken, her voice had become shakier, more tenuous. “He doesn’t want me Eric. He never did. And I am fine with it.”

Eric draped an arm around her shoulder and absently kissed the top of her head. “I’m sorry, Heather. I’m sorry I pushed. I just don’t want you feeling like you have to pretend for my benefit.”

Really wonderful story so far, Sandra. I'm glad I've finally caught up, I've really enjoyed reading it, and I look forward to the next chapter!

This chapter was so enjoyable to read. I loved seeing how Jake reacted to the news of his impending nuptials, and Heather finally beginning to question the meaning behind Emily's actions, as well as her own assumptions and self-imposed rules. I really liked this line:

He was tempted to coax the key to Charlotte from Heather, drive back to town, and ream out Emily. But as he looked around the ranch, he saw chores that needed doing. More importantly, he saw the person he wanted to be around, and her name wasn’t Emily Sullivan.

As usual, you've done an excellent job writing the dynamic between Jake and Heather. You've captured it all; the stubborness they both share, along with that certain reluctance to face their own truths, balanced with that pull they feel towards each other, which they sometimes fight and sometimes embrace. I really liked the details they shared about their youthful fictional crushes. Especially this part:

“Or was it her magic lasso?” she continued mercilessly as she lightly elbowed him.

‘It was her dark hair and blue eyes,’ Jake thought, but remained silent.

“I don’t believe it,” Heather marveled, her eyes shining.

“What?”

“For once, I have you flustered.”

I love how you have Heather and EJ getting to know each other in the past here. It's a really interesting detail, and I laughed when I read the way Heather remembered Jake being described to her. Jake's committee of horses and the pig-stealing story he alluded to were great touches too.

The scene in New Bern was a good contrast to the scenes around it. I really liked seeing Hamilton's reaction to the town, and his mind beginning to ponder over the events that occured there. I really felt for Ted here. It's too bad we never got to see what happened to him- his experience was so traumatic, and he never got to escape from New Bern as our main characters did. I was glad we got a little glimpse of him here.

The horse-back riding lesson was so well described, I could just see it happening. This exchange was so funny:

Heather nodded. “I believe you, Jake. So, any tips?”

“Yeah. Don’t fall.” His expression was so straight-faced and his tone so flat, Heather was sure that if she’d had something to throw at him—other than herself—she would have.

“You are a stinker!” she protested, her words coming out in a mini-huff mingled with laughter.

“I’ve been called many things in my life, but I can honestly say this is the first time anyone has ever called me a stinker.”

“To your face, maybe,” she shot back.

Great chapter, and I look forward to reading more!

Sandra, I was so pleased to be able to read another chapter of this wonderful story.

Once again, you've done a great job blending together scenes of quiet insight into these characters with moments that move the plot forward to new dramatic heights.

The first thing I have to comment on here is Emily. You've done such an excellent job portraying her here (as usual). Truthfully I always expect to be bored or annoyed with Emily when I see her in a scene, but you always manage to make me feel for her and think about the circumstances and choices she's made in her life that have led up to this moment. In this chapter in particular, I really felt for her. Though it's true that she isn't really worried about Jake's safety, I think it's perfectly understandable that she is worried about the pain of being rejected by him, as she is anticipating. While I agree with Gail that she should be looking to herself to create the happiness she wants in life, I still sympathize with her wishing for the happier times she once knew. I really loved the details you included that reminded us of past-Emily. Gail's memories of the awkward pre-teen standing on the porch, and Emily's own memories of playing baseball with the boys and enjoying a (relatively) stable home life were poignant. It really made me see her vulnerability, I think.

  The scenes with Jake and Heather were wonderful too. You create this whole atmosphere around them that makes me feel like I am observing the moment myself. I loved the subtle changes we saw in Heather's character in this chapter; her move from the selfless friend who would remove herself from the equation in a second to someone who is willing to assert herself and recognize her own feelings for what they are (and the fact that she herself recognizes this) is becoming more and more apparent.

 I like the changes we see in Jake as he develops in this story, and in this chapter. You've shown us a different side of Jake here that we don't often get the opportunity to see. He's allowing himself to be sensitive here, and expressing himself. He's got his usual intergrity and, for lack of a less cheesy way to put it, he's very giving. But he's also examining his life and getting ready to make decisions that will make him happy. I think that's really an interesting contrast in this chapter: Gail advises Emily about making her own happiness, while Jake and Heather take steps closer to doing just that.

 I loved Gail in this chapter. Remembering a younger, vulnerable Emily, but holding her own when Emily lashes out at her, and still managing to keep her grief from clouding her judgement, it reminds me of all the things I like about this character. I loved how she asserted herself, and I loved the wisdom she shared in this chapter.

Just a few other things: I thought the detail of Gramps serenading Heather was very funny, I really enjoyed the little backstory into Heather's parents, and I am very intrigued to find out what will happen next in regards to our friends from New Bern.

Great work and I look forward to the next part!

This was a very intriguing chapter, Sandra!

I liked how the setup begins with the two worlds we've been obvserving in the earlier parts of this section sort of colliding - the quiet, introspective world out at the ranch being intruded upon by the forces at work in the bigger picture.

The Jake and Beck interaction here was interesting. Interesting to see how this scene, this moment between the characters happens differently in this world, and the different stakes they both have. It will be very interesting to see where things go from here and also, Heather's and Gail's reactions to what Jake has to tell them.

My favourite part of this chapter was the interaction between Gail and Heather. You capture Gail so well, reflecting on her past, coping with her present, and still hoping for the future. I'm so glad we get to see her making a difference in this world, as she was so badly missing from the show in season two. I love how you handle her both dealing with the constant pain of missing Johnston and still seeing the greater picture, what is happening with her family and friends, and trying to provide support and guidance to them. The relationship developing between her and Heather is interesting and I look forward to seeing how they both handle what is to come.

I felt for Hamilton in this part, not realizing his friend is dead. That was some dramatic irony!

I'm very intrigued as to who this brother/sister pair are and what they will do next. Their interaction hit such a chilling note at the end!

I look forward to reading more!

Excellent installment Sandra!

As usual, I enjoyed going along for the ride as our heroes (and somewhat antagonists, and other intersesting characters) faced the various moments occuring in this chapter. Here were some of the highlights for me:

-Various people's reactions to Jake as the mayor (and their new leader). This line made me chuckle:

‘Screw this town, 92’ indeed. He had heard more than one long-time town hall employee comment on his in-cell carving.

It is really quite humourous, at the same time as an interesting character journey, to see how Jake's life has sort of circled or flipped around. I'm glad he can appreciate the humour in it.

-This line also made me chuckle:

Another person had reported spotting Jonah Prowse near the churchyard, which to Jake, seemed unlikely. Jonah had kept himself distanced from Jericho for the last month, ever since cutting and running with the supplies they needed to try to ward off New Bern. Jake knew that the time would come when he’d have to deal with Jonah, but he hoped it came later rather than sooner. But in a churchyard? Not exactly Jonah’s style.

It took me a moment to figure it out, I admit, but I remembered 13 A then and it dawned on me. I love dramatic irony, and I think you've done it really well here!

-The continual conflict with New Bern as our characters deal with the aftermath of what happened there. It's interesting to think about everything going on between the towns - Constantino's actions, his trial, the consequences all this has had for Heather and Eric, and Jake, the resistance that has sprung up, and I imagine that there are various factions or at least, different people with different loyalties operating within that New Bern resistance (since I imagine the brother and sister we met previously have a specific, if violent/deluded, purpose behind their revenge actions, but I also imagine there are different people with different reactions that may extend to the bigger picture, and a different side of the ASA than Jericho has seen so far). I know we haven't seen it all out in the open yet, but I imagine Heather's got a lot of conflict going on right now because on the one hand, she's experienced such traumatic events in New Bern and at the hands of certain New Bernians, but also, her oldest friend lives there, and I imagine other people she knows who are not of the Constantino mindset. So it is interesting to see her dealing with this very difficult conflicting situation that I assume will now be facing her, especially if she decides to become a liaison.

-I enjoyed Gray's discussion with Jake. We didn't get to see a lot of this in the show, since Gray left for Cheyenne so early, but I think it's interesting to see these two navigate a new, official working relationship, Gray as the elected and sanctioned leader, Jake as an unofficial leader, but now appointed to lead as well. I understand Gray's mindset here. He's seen the town almost destroyed and so is willing to put his trust into a higher power that can prevent that, and unwilling to question it. I really did like his arc on the show in season two, figuring out that he did need to start asking questions (though of course we didn't really get to see it) so it will be interesting to see where he goes from here. And I have to say, I liked this line:

“There is a dress code for sheriff’s department employees. Extends to the hair, as well.” Jake frowned as Gray retrieved a file folder from his desk and pulled a piece of paper from it. “Before you get irate with me, you should know this is a carryover from the previous mayor’s administration. Look it over, and let’s get in compliance. After all, you set the example for your deputies.”

Gray holding his own with Jake. Though I can't imagine Jake cutting his hair or wearing that Jericho's finest uniform, Gray makes a good point.

-The Jake and Emily scene. This scene was almost painful. Once again, I have to admit, you've got me feeling for Emily. I feel for Jake too, of course, and I know he's the hero of our story, and Emily is really set up as a sort of antagonist, but I did feel for her here. I know she's reacting and dealing with things in a less-than-mature, less-than-honourable way, and I'm not saying that I think she's excused for it or anything, but I do think her behaviour is realistic, in a sense, it's a way many people do behave, and it comes from deep seated fears and pains she's experienced. I think it's sad that she hasn't properly dealt with her grief over Chris, or over her whole family really, and that she's clinging to a false promise of comfort that will reallly not do her any good in the long term, so I am glad that Jake is seeing clearly and making the decision to end it. Hopefully they will both be much better off in the future as they move on.

As you can see, you gave me a lot to think about in this chapter, and I really enjoyed it. As always, I look forward to the next chapter!