"Fresh Air"

"Mom, we're home," Jian said as she walked inside, and John followed her in. "Huh, is she not here?" John asked and Jian frowned as she searched around and looked inside her room. 

"She's not home, John you can go change first, I'll call Mom," Jian said and he nodded locking the door behind them before heading towards Jian's room. 

"Hello, Jiji, are you alright?" Jessica said as she answered the phone, and Jian sighed before asking, "Yes, where are you, Mom?" 

"I went out for some fresh air, I'll be back by 11, is everything okay?" Jessica asked and Jian smiled saying, "Yes, and um, is it alright if John spends the night?" 

Jessica closed her eyes saying, "Yes, and congratulations Jiji, I'll be home soon, but you two can lock up and go to bed if you want."

Jian nods saying bye before ending the call. "Jian, did you find out where Aunty is?" John asked walking out and Jian shook her head saying, "She said she was getting some fresh air, but it was quiet in the background." 

He nods entering the kitchen saying, "Maybe she's somewhere quiet or something." Jian nods saying, "I'll go change and then we can head to bed." He smiles before opening up the bottle of water. 

...

She sighed as she ended the call, turning to face him again and asking, "So where were we again?" 

"Jessica, you know how Jian's health has been improving, but yours is the opposite, your alcohol consumption has increased by over ten folds, combined with the overwork, the lack of sleep, and improper nutrition, you have lost over 30 pounds since you first moved to New York," Lawson said softly. 

Jessica sighed asking, "Lawson, I am not here to speak of my weight, I want to know why I have these migraines and how I can get rid of them." 

He passed her a brain scan saying, "Jessica, I have looked through all the scans, and there's nothing abnormal about your brain, if anything I am surprised your organs are doing so well."

He paused passing her another graph saying, "The migraines do not stem from brain-related activity, they are a result of you being underweight, having excessive hangovers, being sleep deprived, and you lack nutrition." 

"Okay, I get it, I'll eat more," Jessica said and he sighed getting up. "Jessica, just eating more isn't the solution, you need to understand that if your body continues at this rate, you will not make it past 50, and you know I am not saying this to scare you. Jessica, you need to cut back on drinking, you need to eat healthy, sleep more, and stop overworking yourself, don't you want to be there for Jian when she's older?" His question struck a nerve, and she got up instantly. 

"Dr. Lawson, thank you for today's consultation, and regarding Jian's future I am not planning to be in it for a long time, you know that, so don't hold her as leverage," her tone was cold and distant, and he sighed saying, "Alright, I'll be careful in the future, bye Jess." 

She sighed before saying, "Oh and Jiji is dating now, the boy from last time, I'll tell her you said congratulations and about her appointment next month." He nods holding the door open for her as she exits. 

The ride back home was quiet as she contemplated in her head, "Hm, I just need to be there for a few more years, then I'll leave everything to her, but what if she needs me when she's older, what if John can't take care of her, what if she-" her thoughts stopped as the car in front of her braked suddenly. 

She glared at the driver who came to check out the car as she made a note to memorize the license plate. She stayed in the car and once the driver saw nothing was wrong, he returned inside.

It was only a brief moment, but as she glanced at the back seat of the car, something felt familiar. Her heart skipped a beat, and its speed increased as the beating rang in her ears. She felt her eyes water, and she snapped back just as quickly as she parked off to the side.

She glanced up, it was near one of the many entrances to Central Park and the closest to the place where he proposed to her. Jessica sighed, she wanted to get out and take a look but there was no time, she had an early meeting the next day, and Jian and Johnny were waiting at home. She whipped the few drops of tears before she drove away and back home.

"Lawson is right, I am relying too much on alcohol to numb these emotions, I need to get a grip and focus, Jian will want to live here and after she's old enough, I can leave everything behind," Jessica thoughts ended with a simple conclusion and from that day she stopped drinking but it only ended up causing her more pain then she had expected.