Rushing to his wedding, he bought flowers from a little girl by the roadside…

And all because of her. I wanted her love so much, dreamed of her affection, but never got it. And now what? A man with a criminal record and a certificate from a mental hospital? Why did that girl jump into the swamp? It would have been better if she had stayed alive.

At least that wouldn’t be on my conscience. Jess stood as if thunderstruck. It was Jack White.

She never would have guessed that this guy could turn into such a miserable, even pathetic person who had lost all hope for a bright future. Jack, the girl called, I didn’t die in the swamp that night. The young man turned sharply.

Horror was evident in his eyes. You came for me, didn’t you? You want me to sink into the swamp muck too, don’t you? Well, I’m ready. I have nothing left to wait for in this life.

Jack, I didn’t die, the young woman said calmly, standing still to avoid frightening him even more. Jessica Rose? Is that you? You didn’t die that evening here in this cursed swamp? But everyone said. You were declared dead.

I know, I threw my jacket in and ran to the city. I was afraid, afraid that you would kill me and my daughter and grandmother. Jack White was silent, staring at Jess and occasionally blinking his large brown eyes with dark long lashes.

I’m sorry, Jack, Jessica suddenly said, her eyes moist with tears. If I hadn’t reported you then. Maybe your life would have turned out differently.

The girl took a few steps toward the swamp. I hate her. Jack clasped his head in his hands.

I spent my whole childhood trying to earn her love, to get even a drop of her attention, but no. All she cared about was the theater and her numerous admirers. Who are you talking about? Jessica asked quietly, sitting on the grass next to him.

My mother. She never loved me. She gave birth to me because it was too late for an abortion.

She told me that herself. At first, I tried to be a good boy, studied, behaved well, listened to her and everything, but it didn’t work, Jess, it didn’t work. Mother didn’t care, having a son like that was convenient, because he didn’t cause trouble, didn’t require any special attention.

Then I changed tactics and turned from a good boy to a bad one. The school called her in, demanding she take care of her son, give him more maternal love. But how can you give maternal love if there is none, absolutely none, understand? Jessica listened attentively.

This self-absorbed dandy was revealing a completely different side of himself. It turned out he had a very vulnerable soul. But, you know, Jess, that didn’t work either.

Mother threatened me, said if I didn’t stop causing trouble, she’d send me to an orphanage. That’s when I realized I needed to get out of the house as soon as possible. But getting off the bad boy path turned out to be very difficult for some reason.

Yet I’ve always had a knack for math. Teachers predicted a great future for me. They were wrong.

Jack, forgive me if you can. I was so angry at you then. My mom was one foot in the grave.

I had an old grandmother to take care of. And Peggy was mad at me, accusing me of stealing her dream guy. She dragged me to the lake just to meet you there.

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