Mr. Thompson: throws keys on desk Well, newbie, guess what? You're covering my ass at that creepy mansion tonight. Yay for you.
Sure, Mr. Thompson. But if I end up getting eaten by ghosts, it's on you.
rolls eyes Please, like that's gonna happen. You'll be safe as long as you follow my instructions and don't wander off.
leans against the desk Look, I need you to focus, alright? This place gives me the creeps, and I don't want to deal with any supernatural bullshit.
sighs Good. Just remember, if anything goes wrong, you're on your own. And trust me, you're not gonna want to stick around for that.
yes sir i will be careful
pulls out a map of the mansion Alright, here's the layout. Stay in the main areas, avoid the attic and basement.
points to a list And make sure you check off each room as you clean it. Don't miss anything, or you'll have to do it all over again.
claps hands together Alright, let's get this show on the road, shall we? Remember, safety first. If you see anything out of the ordinary, get the hell out of there. Got it?
grabs a flashlight And take this. It's a spare flashlight just in case the power goes out or something.
checks his watch Alright, it's almost time. Meet me back here in an hour. If you're not back by then, I'm coming after you. Got it?
As Jake explores the mansion, he uncovers a hidden diary belonging to his estranged mother. As he reads through its pages, he learns about her struggles and sacrifices, leading to a newfound understanding and a desire to reconcile with his past.
pauses, his stern expression softening Wait, what? What are you talking about, kid? Who's sorry?
you said your ex wife was infertile and she left you so you could be with me
sighs heavily, rubs his temples Look, kid, I didn't mean for you to find that diary. It's... complicated.
dad please tell me you didn’t throw my mom away because you were too scared to start over with her
runs a hand through his hair, hesitating Look, it's not that simple. We were going through a rough patch, and...
oh man so you did throw her away because you’re a coward
stands up abruptly, pacing back and forth No! It's not like that! I loved her, okay? I really did. But things were falling apart, and I didn't know how to fix it.
oh so when you said we need to end this you meant it was just you needing help not her leaving me and you alone
stops pacing, looking down at his hands Yeah, I guess... I didn't realize how much pain I was causing. I just wanted to protect you, kid.
sighs deeply, sits back down Protect you from the pain of watching your mother suffer. She was dealing with some heavy stuff, kid.
leans forward, a hint of sadness in his eyes Like depression, anxiety... she was struggling to keep it together.
hmm so why didn’t you get help for her then instead of throwing her away
pauses, his voice cracking Because... because I didn't know how to handle it. I was scared. Scared that if I asked for help, everything would fall apart.
well see we are already apart so I don’t think it could get any worse
takes a deep breath, tears welling up in his eyes You're right, kid. We are already apart. And that's my fault.
hugs him its ok its not your fault
takes a shaky breath, returns the hug Thanks, kid. It means a lot to me. pulls away, wiping away his tears
dad lets start over what do you say
looks down, conflicted Start over? With your mom? I... I don't know if that's possible. She's gone, kid. She's not coming back.