August
You have received an instant message from:
ISLA
Isla: Spoken to him yet?
Jesy: Nope.
Isla: Still feeling rotten?
Jesy: Aye.
Isla: Gonna fold?
Jesy: Absolutely fucking not.
Isla: Atta girl.
9 Aug | From: Penny Robinson | To: Jesy Pattinson
Subject: Answer your phone
My God, you’re a hard person to get hold of these days. We’re going for drinks on Friday night. You wanna come with? Might cheer you up.
9 Aug | From: Jesy Pattinson | To: Penny Robinson
Subject: RE: Answer your phone
I don’t need cheering up. I’m perfectly fine. Drinks sound good though, where are we going?
9 Aug | From: Penny Robinson | To: Jesy Pattinson
Subject: RE: Answer your phone
We were thinking The Rowan, but we can come to Glasgow if you’d prefer.
9 Aug | From: Jesy Pattinson | To: Penny Robinson
Subject: RE: Answer your phone
Fuck Glasgow.
A drink at The Rowan sounds perfect.
1 NEW SMS
Jes?
Where you at? I thought you were meeting us at The Rowan. - Penny
18 Aug | From: Annabell Mason | To: Jesy Pattinson
Subject: Are you okay?
Jesy, it’s Mum.
We’re all getting quite worried about you, pet. Penny says you’ve not been answering the phone, and that you missed a girls’ night out.
No one is angry if you need some time to yourself. We’ve all been there before. But reach out to someone, love. No one should shoulder their problems alone.
Love you,
Mum.
You have received an instant message from:
ISLA
Isla: Jesy!
Isla: Jes, I can see you’re online. Talk to me, please!
Isla: Seriously? I know you’re feeling some kind of way right now, but it’s not fair to take it out on everyone who cares for you.
Isla: Unless you want to end up alone.
Jesy: Sorry, Isla. It seems Jesy has left herself logged into her laptop. She’s not here at the moment; she’s collecting father’s medication from the pharmacist. Can I pass on a message?
Isla: No.
Isla: Just tell her to call me.
ISLA has left the conversation.
25 Aug | From: Isla Lawson | To: Brian Trainer
Subject: Please be the right Brian.
Hi,
You don’t know me, but I think we have a friend in common. I know this is incredibly invasive, but have you been talking to Jesy Pattinson?
I know it’s none of my business, but if you have been talking to her, and I do indeed have the right Brian, have you heard from her recently?
Thanks, (and sorry)
Isla.
25 Aug | From: Brian Trainer | To: Isla Lawson
Subject: RE: Please be the right Brian.
Hi Isla,
You’ve found me. I am the right Brian. Jesy and I have been talking for a couple of months now, but admittedly not as much the past month. I haven’t heard from her since the end of July.
Is everything okay?
25 Aug | From: Isla Lawson | To: Brian Trainer
Subject: RE: Please be the right Brian
Oh, thank God.
I’m gonna be honest with you, Brian. I wouldn’t use the word okay right now. The only interaction I’ve had with my best friend recently has been through her prick of a husband who I can’t stand.
So, I’m feeling a little angsty, I won’t lie.
I don’t quite understand what happened.
I know the two of you had a falling out. She ranted on the phone for about an hour after sending you a rather heated email.
By the way, fuck you.
She was fine for a second, making plans to come and meet us for drinks, and now she’s ignoring everyone. Me, Penny (who I’m sure you’ve heard of), her parents.
I don’t think you’re the cause of this, because like I said, she was fine initially. Angry, but fine. But I also can’t think of any other reason she’s acting so odd.
Are you also being ignored?
25 Aug | From: Brian Trainer | To: Isla Lawson
Subject: RE: Please be the right Brian.
I’m not being ignored because I haven’t tried to contact her. I promised her I wouldn’t until she messaged me first.
You really haven’t heard from her?
You have received an instant message from:
ISLA
Isla: No one has heard from her.
Brian: That’s so odd.
Brian: And Jerry isn’t offering up any information?
Isla: Are you kidding?
Isla: He gets her all to himself with no outside interruptions? He’s living the fucking dream.
Brian: I assume that having her to himself isn’t a good thing.
Isla: For most couples, maybe it would be.
Isla: For them, no.
Isla: But that’s her business, and for her to tell you.
Brian: Agreed.
Brian: After almost a month of no contact, if I were in the position to, I think I’d be making a house visit.
Isla: Yeah, you were my last hope online.
Isla: I’ll drive to the city tomorrow.
Brian: Could you update me?
Brian: Maybe I’m not allowed to ask, but I don’t want to break my promise to her.
Isla: I’ll let you know.
Brian: You have my gratitude.
1 NEW SMS
Seriously, Jesy.
We’re right outside, and if your husband gives me that patronising smile one more time, I’m going to lamp him. You’re really not going to talk to us?
This isn’t fair. We haven’t done anything wrong. – Isla
26 Aug | From: Isla Lawson | To: Brian Trainer
Subject: RE: Please be the right Brian
Sorry for the late response. We just got home. She refused to speak to us. Jerry wouldn’t even let us past the front door.
Something serious is going on. She wouldn’t do this. Not for any reason.
26 Aug | From: Brian Trainer | To: Isla Lawson
Subject: RE: Please be the right Brian.
It certainly doesn’t sound like her.
Or at least not the Jesy I’ve been getting to know. She’s not avoidant. Well, aside from one or two minor blips. But for the most part, she tackles conflict head on. She’s articulate in getting her point across.
I don’t see why she would avoid talking to her nearest and dearest, even if she had a reason.
26 Aug | From: Isla Lawson | To: Brian Trainer
Subject: RE: Please be the right Brian
She wouldn’t!
Something about this entire situation stinks, and I’m going to get to the bottom of it.
1 NEW SMS
I’ve had enough now, Jesy. If someone doesn’t hear from you by tomorrow night, I’m calling the police. – Isla
28 Aug | From: Brian Trainer | To: Jesy Pattinson
Subject: [none]
Jesy,
I know I’m breaking my promise here by reaching out to you, but it seems that sometimes, breaking a promise is worth the outcome.
That outcome being that I tempt you out of hibernation by making you send me another angry email!
Okay, that was a lame attempt at humour.
Honestly, I don’t think I’ll get an answer, but my anxiety levels are spiking, and I feel like I have to try something.
I don’t know what you’re going through, and I’m under no illusion that your absence is in any way anything to do with me and our fallout.
All I know is that I’m worried. Along with a bunch of other much more important people than me.
I just wanted to reassure you that there is nothing you can’t tell your loved ones. All we want is to know that you’re okay. There is no judgement waiting for you. No anger.
Just love and support, and whatever you need to get through whatever you’re clearly going through.
You have so many people who care about you, enough that they tracked me down (Isla is delightful, she gave me one of your classic ‘fuck-yous’).
Just reach out to someone… anyone. And remember…
Oh, you’ve just signed online. One second.
You have received an instant message from:
brIAN
Brian: Jesy?
Brian: Are you there?
Jesy: Who is this?
Brian: Very funny. Are you okay?
Jesy: There’s an email here from you.
Brian: There’s nothing too important in it.
Brian: Nothing that no one else has asked you, I’m sure.
Jesy: Oh. You’re her little ‘friend’.
Jesy: I thought she was done with you.
Brian: This really isn’t Jesy?
Jesy: This is her husband.
Brian: I see.
Brian: Well, I’m sorry for intruding on your intrusion.
Jesy: My intrusion?
Brian: I emailed Jesy, not Jerry. Seems like you probably shouldn’t be reading her emails.
Jesy: Interesting.
Jesy: How my wife and I conduct our affairs is none of your business. For your information, I have read every exchange the two of you have shared.
Brian: I’m happy for you.
Brian: It’s not like we have anything to hide.
Jesy: Oh, I know. She wouldn’t do that. She loves me.
Brian: I didn’t doubt it.
Brian: Look, man. I’m not doing this pissing contest with you. She’s been quiet for a month. Her friends are worried. Her parents are worried. I just want to know that she’s okay.
Jesy: She’s fine.
Jesy: She just has a lot on her mind.
Brian: So much so that she can’t call her mum?
Jesy: I don’t know what to tell you. She’s not up to talking. What with the baby and everything.