Jessica's flight landed late that night. Surprisingly she wasn't the least bit tired. Her taxi dropped her off at her apartment building. It felt amazing being home. She missed New York. But, now, knowing she wasn't coming home to Danny gave her this empty feeling inside. She didn't really know how to feel.

She walked into the lobby and the landlord came up to her. He stayed behind the desk at night.

"Jessica, hi." He says tapping the back of her shoulder.

Jessica turns around and gives him a soft smile.

"Hello."

"While you were away you got lots of deliveries. I hope you don't mind that I brought it all inside for you. I didn't know when you'd be back. I had my assistant water the flowers for you."

When Jessica was away all of her friends in New York sent their condolences. She didn't expect to come home to followers, thinking they'd all be dead by now. In a way she wished they weren't going to be there.

"Thank you, I appreciate it." She nods

"And I'm sorry..." He says softly

Jessica bows her head "I am too."

Jessica says goodnight then takes the elevator to her floor.

When she got off she saw her door. She stood in front of it for a bit. Then, she grew the courage to open it.

When she did, everything was pitch black. She flicked on the lights and was stunned by the flowers that were scattered around her apartment. They were all watered and taken care of nicely. She didn't think she'd enjoy them, but they brought light to the apartment.

As she walked into the living room she had tripped on two big bags.

She looks down and sees her and Danny's luggage. Since they didn't have time to grab their things, the airline sent their carry-ons and bags.

She sighed at the sight of seeing Danny's things.

She kicked the roll bags in front of her to the bedroom.

When she reached the bedroom she threw the bags onto the bed and sat next to them. She moved herself up to the top of The bed and shifted onto Danny's side of the bed.

She cuddled with his pillow and sniffed it. She could smell his shampoo on the pillow... she cried softly then looked at his nightstand. On it was his favorite picture. It was of Jessica.

Jessica didn't think being back in her apartment would be this painful. It was even more painful than being at the lake house. Reason being, her and Danny built a life here. This is were they lived together.

//-//

Come morning Jessica woke up in the same exact spot. She tossed and turned then gazed to her left. The curtains were never shut, so the strong light shined into her room. She looked at the end of the bed to see all of the bags. She sighed then got herself out of bed.

Her first stop was the restroom. She had felt so gross from being on the plane so she decided to shower.

When she reached the bathroom her eyes first hit the counter.

All of Danny's things were just how he had left them. Scattered across the counter. Jessica remembers how she always got upset with him for making such a mess.

When seeing all of his things something inside made her swing her hand across the counter. All of his things and hers flew across the room and landed on the floor. Danny's cologne shattered into pieces.

She began to cry loudly and painfully. She grabbed the trash can and swung all the doors open. She grabbed her hands and threw everything into the trash can.

Before she knew it the trash can was filled to the max. The whole bathroom was empty. The shower, closet, drawers, and countertops.

Jessica had worked herself up so much. Her body began hot and sweaty. She had been crying so much that her breathing became a slight bit impaired.

Then, Jessica began to feel sick. She ran to the toilet and got onto her knees. She hunched over and became very sick.

She felt so dizzy and nauseous. She had to tell herself to calm down. Maybe that was why she didn't feel right.

//-//

Hours had passed and Jessica was bed ridden. She left the bathroom alone and wrapped herself up in blankets. She continued to get sick. Jessica decided to have someone get her groceries. It was a perk of living in the city, ordering your groceries. All that was on her list was crackers, ginger ale, and bread.

While she waited for the delivery, Sarah had called.

"Hey, Jess. How was your flight?"

Jessica groans "I'm not sure, but I'm pretty sick today." She utters

"Maybe you should try eating or drinking something." Sarah says, knowing Jessica's appetite was out of wack.

Jessica shakes her head. "It's my stomach. I've been sick all morning... I haven't felt like this since...." then, Jessica stops herself. The thought that had just come to her head freaked her out. She quickly made it disappear.

"Since?" Sarah asks after the phone went silent

"I think I just got a stomach bug. I'm going to hold off going to work tomorrow if I still feel like this." Jessica says

"Just relax, try to eat, and take your time on going back."

"... are you okay, though? Does it feel good to be home?"

"I didn't think it would suck this much to be here, in my apartment."

Sarah sighs "If you need to-"

"I'm not coming back. Honestly, I'm thinking of moving to a different place. I don't know yet..."

*doorbell rings*

"Now?" Sarah asks

"Yes, but I need to go. I'll call you later. Thanks for checking in."

Jessica gets off the phone quickly, without letting Sarah say goodbye.

Sarah's POV-

She puts the phone down and looks at the crowd who had been listening in on her conversation. That was, Ann, Jane, and Dorthy.

"She sounded very sick. I think she has a stomach bug." Sarah sighs

"Oh goodness! That doesn't sound good. What if she's lying? I'm telling you, that girl hasn't been eating! Her body has been through so much...." Dorthy covers her face and begins to cry

Ann and Jane comfort their mother. "People get sick after flights all the time, Mom. You're over thinking this. Jessica, she's going to be okay." Ann says

"I worry for her! It's like when your father died all over again!" She says

"It's not like that Mom..."

"We fight and she leaves. Why did I let her leave!" She yells

"Because she needed too." Jane says softly

"Jessica said she might move. She hung up before I could ask more." Sarah says

"Move? Move where?" Dorthy says with wide eyes

"I don't know..." she shrugs her shoulders

"Jessica doesn't handle stuff like this well! She goes on rampages... I just want her here!"

"I know, Mom... but she'll be back. Once things calm down everything with be okay. She just needs to be on her own." Ann says

Dorthy nods "I miss her..."

//-//

A week later- 

Jessica still wasn't feeling well. She felt so sick and tired. But, she had to stop holding off going back to work. Within the last week of being in New York things weren't going well for Jessica. It wasn't just being sick. But everywhere she looked, it reminded her of Danny. It was more and more painful each time. She was able to finish getting rid of his things. But instead of donating or throwing them away, she packed them into boxes and put them in a storage closet that she never bothered with.

It was Monday, her first day back to work in almost three months. The morning before work she did her morning routine. But, without Danny. He was usually the one to make the coffee to save Jessica time, but Jessica had to make her own. Instead of six cups she made three. She poured herself a cup then got ready to head out the door.

Usually, Jessica would hand Danny his brief case and grab hers as they went out the door. But the hook was empty since she put it away in storage.

Walking out of the apartment alone didn't feel right... nothing felt the same anymore. Her routine was out of wack.

//-//

Once arriving at the office, Jessica went through the lobby, up the elevator and reached her office floor.

When she walked in the receptionist, Grace, was there to greet her. No one knew she'd be back today. They were shocked to see Jessica. They knew about Danny's death. They weren't expecting to see her so soon.

Everyone looked her up and down. They stared at her thin body, her pale complexion, and sad eyes. She wasn't the Jessica everyone knew. Her co workers played it cool. They didn't want her to feel uncomfortable, especially on her first day back.

"Hello, Jessica. It's great to see you!" Grace says happily

Jessica gives her a fake smile while she goes through all the papers on the desk.

"And you too." She says softly

"Would you like coffee or anything this morning?" Heather asks sweetly

Jessica shakes her head. "No, I'm alright. Do you mind bringing Heather in. I need her to catch me up." Jessica says

"Of course"

Heather filled in for Jessica while she was gone.

Heather comes in shortly after with stacks of papers.

"Hello, Jessica." Heather says sitting down

"Hello" Jessica says

"How are you?"

Jessica shrugs her shoulders "Fine, and you? I've read your emails... things aren't going great here?" She asks

"I didn't mean to bother you while you were gone, but no... I guess no one can really run this place like you."

"That's not true..."

"We've just been stuck in a pit. But I'm sure you'll be able to get us out."

Jessica looks at her and sighs. "You will be able to get us out..."

"Excuse me?" Heather asks, she was confused by what Jessica meant.

"I won't be here for long, Heather. I'll help you, but you need to learn how to take the full load here. This job, it can be yours."

Heather sat their with a blank face. She had known Jessica since Jessica's first day at NYC MAG. Jessica loved her job, never in a million years did she think she'd leave. But is that what Jessica meant by 'I won't be here long'?