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

[color=teal]"Yeah,"[/color] Jess replied, despite the conflicting feelings knotting inside her. It was like just before her mom's visit several days ago, only worse. Eager as she was to catch up on lost time with her family, there was even more at stake now. Not to mention being back at her old place would feel weird without her dad around...

She dragged her suitcase, waves of anxiety intensifying as she neared Roxy. Given the upcoming car journey, Jess knew it wasn't just about having to deal with other people. [color=teal]"Uhm..."[/color] She tried to give a comforting smile. [color=teal]"It'll only be around an hour from here."[/color]

Her earlier check of an online map had revealed it really would take no more than an hour, but would that be enough to reassure Roxy? She recalled each minute stretching out during their previous vehicle journeys together, that stress-distorted sense of time spilling over from the anchor. An hour may normally sound like a short length of time, but it wouldn't to Roxy.

[i]Way to make the situation worse, not better,[/i] Jess inwardly scolded herself.