[center][color=teal][h2]Jessamyn "Jess" Bailey[/h2][/color][/center]

A surge of rage and guilt from Roxy ran through Jess like physical pain. [color=teal]"No! Don't do this to yourself!"[/color] the empath yelled, practically spitting out the words, then raising a hand as if to clamp it over her mouth. She hadn't intended for the words to take on that harsh edge. [color=teal]"I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean..."[/color] she started, but Roxy had already stormed to the other side of the room.

Breathing slowly in, slowly out, Jess crouched down and gathered up the shredded paper. As she threw it away, she couldn't help but wonder what secrets the man had ordered her to help him keep hidden. She didn't want to think about it, but stress and sleep deprivation set her imagination whirring out of her control.

With her increasing understanding of why Roxy acted the way she did, the last thing Jess wanted to do was read the email, read what her mother would undoubtedly have to say about the anchor.