Two Sides To Every Person (Short Story)

Jocelyn finds herself in unknown territory as she finds her way through life.

My name is Jocelyn and I live with my mother and step-father. I’ve been in this hell hole with them for 8 long years. Ever since my mother married John, my life has changed for the worse.

John: Your mother is gone for the night, Jocelyn. Want to come to sleep in my bed tonight?

Jocelyn: No! Please leave me alone!

I cover myself in my sheets and cower with fear as I hear his footsteps approach my door. I have locked my door every night for the past 7 years.

John: Open the door Jos, I just want to be close to my step-daughter. Come on, don’t you want to be closer with me too?

Jocelyn: Please John, please, just leave me alone.

John: How can I do that when you constantly try to seduce me with your short shorts and hair tied back? You know I love it when you’re hair is tied back! Don’t make me break another door to get closer to you. I don’t think your mom will be happy with that.

I have to get out of this place. I can’t take this anymore. I open my window, which happens to be on the second floor, and I jump. My ankle hurts but I run and run and run until I can’t breathe anymore. Out of breath and in my pajamas, I stop at a gas station to take a break. As I’m sitting outside the door of the gas station a man walks by, and I feel an electric charge go through my entire body. He walks by glancing at me. When he comes out.

Man: Here.

He hands me a bag of chips and a soda as he kneels next to me.

Man: Why are you here alone at night?

Jocelyn: I ran away from home. I can’t go back there.

Man: Come on. I’m going home and you’re coming with me. I don’t want anything to happen to you.

Driven by the electric charge that he gives me, I hop in his car and head with him to his hotel. I pass out in his car from exhaustion.

Man: Hi sweetie, wake up. You should eat lunch.

Jocelyn: Lunch? Did I sleep all night and into midday?

Man: Yes, you seemed exhausted so I let you sleep until now.

Jocelyn: Thank you so much.

Man: That reminds me. I don’t know your name and you don’t know mine. I’m Scott.

Jocelyn: I’m sorry Scott, my name is Jocelyn.

Scott: Nice to meet you, Jocelyn. Let’s have lunch and I want you to tell me everything that happened.

We have an amazing array of foods from pieces of bread, veggies, and meats. I choose a delicious piece of salmon with green beans and a croissant with a slab of butter. As I eat, I tell him about my step-father and how he abused me, how my mother didn’t believe me when I told her, and about what happened the night I ran away.

Scott: I will take care of you and I will never let anyone ever hurt you again.

That is when our love affair began. There was only one hindrance we both had no idea about.

* * * 2 years later * * *

Scott: I have to tell you something, Jocelyn. There’s someone I want you to meet.

Jocelyn: What going on? Who do I need to meet?

Scott: I want you to meet Stuart. Stuart is a personality inside of me.

I had a feeling he had multiple personalities because he is so different at certain times. Because I thought this, I spoke with a psychiatrist about him and learned a lot about how to help Scott cope with his disorder.

Jocelyn: I would love to meet him. How are you, Stuart?

Scott: I’m great Jocelyn. I have enjoyed all of the time we have spent together even if you didn’t know it was me.

From time to time I would talk to Stuart or Scott. I love them both very much.

* * * 2 1/2 years later * * *

Lately, Scott and Stuart have been very secretive. I sit outside of his office door listening through.

Scott: She’s getting worse. I think I have to tell her the truth. She’s seeing someone who isn’t there.

Jocelyn: Who is he talking about?

Julianna: Obviously he’s cheating on you with a freak show who sees people who don’t exist.

Jocelyn: How’d you get in here Julianna? Scott doesn’t want you anymore!

Scott: Jocelyn? What are you doing out here?

Jocelyn: Why did you give Julianna a key? Tell her to leave now!

Scott: Where is she?

Jocelyn: Are you blind? She’s right here.

Julianna: Maybe he’s pretending I’m not here.

Scott: Julianna, leave now!

She leaves when Scott yells at her.

Jocelyn: Thank you. Please get the key from her so she can stop taunting me.

Scott: I’ll do anything for you, Jocelyn.

Jocelyn: Why do you always pretend not to see her?

Scott: I really can’t see her. She must have some kind of magic?

Jocelyn: Magic isn’t real Scott. What’s really going on? Am I going crazy?

Scott: Jocelyn, you’re not going crazy.

Jocelyn: Who were you talking about in your office? You said you should tell her the truth and she’s getting worse.

Scott: You know how I have Stuart?

Jocelyn: Of course, I love Stuart!

Scott: Well Stuart doesn’t exist. Instead, Julianna is your Stuart, except now she has dissociated. It causes you to think I am cheating on you, which I am not. I love you Jocelyn, all of you, including Julianna.

I all of a sudden experience a splitting headache and pass out.

Psychiatrist: Jocelyn, wake up.

Jocelyn: Dr. June?

Psychiatrist: Yes, it’s me, Jocelyn. I’m sorry to meet you like this again.

Jocelyn: Is it true? Am I also Julianna?

Psychiatrist: Yes, it’s true. I’ve been trying to help you through it without making you have a psychotic break. You believed that Scott had multiple personalities and it was the perfect way to walk you into understanding your own disorder.

Jocelyn: I can’t believe this. I see a big ring on Julianna’s finger. Does this mean I am married to Scott?

Scott: Yes, I married you because I love you, Julianna, or Jocelyn, but I had apparently married Julianna before I had a complete understanding of your disorder. I want to marry you too Jocelyn!

I cry in his arms while Dr. June explains to us some important details about my disorder and how to cope with it.

We eventually marry again and fall deeper in love with each other as I discover more about myself and my husband. How did such a horrible life turn into this much love and happiness? Happy endings do exist even for those hurt as much as me.