When Love Turns into Survival. Story behind Jessica Melton. Season-01-Ep-01 Realistic Domestic Drama Addiction & Family Crisis.

Eugene, somewhere near the city. September 02, 2023. It is 8:45 in the morning.

The morning atmosphere is pleasant. On both sides of a narrow road in the small town, nice bungalows can be seen. The traffic of cars and bikes has started.

Jessica Melton is standing on the side of the road. She is holding a school bag on her left shoulder. Her daughter, Stella Melton, age 8, is wearing her school dress and is chattering about something.

Name – Rebecca Beebe, age 58 (an elderly white woman). Rebecca is walking while taking her pet dog (Mogo) for a walk. She sees Jessica and Stella.

Stella says, “Hello Mogo. How are you, my friend?”

Mogo wags his tail upon seeing Stella and looks happy.

Rebecca says with a smile, “Hello Stella, good morning my child.”

Stella says, “Good morning, Miss Beebe.”

Jessica’s mood does not look good. There is worry visible on her face. Jessica is so lost in her thoughts that she does not even notice that Miss Rebecca has arrived.

Rebecca notices this and asks her, “Jessie, what happened, my child?”

Jessica says, “Oh Miss Beebe, I didn’t see you at all. I am sorry!”

Beebe says, “It’s nothing, my Jessie. What are you thinking about so early in the morning? Is there some problem?”

Jessica says, “No no Miss Beebe, nothing. I just didn’t sleep well last night, that’s all. Nothing else.”

Beebe says, “Oh. Did George not let you sleep?”

Jessica says with a laugh, “Oh Miss Beebe, you also joke a lot.”

Just then the school van’s horn sounds, and a yellow school van arrives.

Jessica hands the bag to Stella and says, “Stella, I will come to school at 11:30 today. I have work right now. You go.”

Stella says, “But the teacher has called both Mommy and Daddy.”

The van driver says, “Come on, quickly.”

“Okay okay Stella, please go.”

Stella gets into the van and the van leaves.

Jessica and Beebe chat for a while and walk toward the house.

Jessica reaches home and rings the doorbell. The sound of the bell is heard but there is no response from inside the house. Jessica rings the bell again.

Jessica rings the bell for about 10 minutes, but still gets no response from inside.

Then Jessica goes to the back of the house, quietly takes out a key from a plant pot, and opens the back door.

She enters the house, goes to the bedroom, and tries to wake up George who is sleeping.

Name – George Melton, age 32 (a white man with brownish-black hair). George is under the influence of drugs. He gets up but everything looks blurry to him. Jessica’s face looks to him like his own reflection in a steel spoon.

Jessica shouts at George, “George, we have to go to Stella’s school today.”

Jessica tries to argue with George. But George has no sense left. He is completely intoxicated. He falls back on the bed and goes into a deep sleep.

Jessica sits down on the floor near the bed and says while crying, “Oh George, please improve, George please. Not for me, but at least for our daughter, improve, George!”

Jessica keeps crying and muttering for twenty minutes.

Jessica goes to the bathroom and takes a bath while crying.

After that, Jessica goes to the kitchen and makes an omelet and bread toast.

Meanwhile, George comes there staggering and asks for food. George shouts angrily and demands food.

Jessica serves him bread and omelet on a white plate.

George takes one bite and says, “Hmm, it’s good. Give me orange juice.”

Jessica says, “There is no grocery left at home. Please finish this.”

George gets very angry and shouts.

George opens the fridge. There are beer bottles inside the fridge. He picks up the empty juice tetra pack, opens the cap, and tries to drink. The last two or three drops fall on his tongue.

Jessica watches this whole scene helplessly and blames her own fate.

George takes out two bottles of beer from the fridge, opens the caps, puts the bottle to his mouth, and walks out of the kitchen.

Jessica makes bread and omelet again and eats her breakfast while lost in a whirlpool of thoughts.

Jessica changes her clothes and leaves for the office. She locks the door and sits in her old sedan car. The car again heads in the same direction toward the city.

Upon reaching the city, Jessica parks her car in the parking lot of a tall building. While going up in the elevator, a serious expression is visible on Jessica’s face.

Jessica reaches the office, greets others with “Good morning,” goes to her desk, and turns on the computer. She logs in and checks her mail. While checking one email, she writes something in her diary. Then she goes to her boss’s cabin.

Jessica says, “Sir, may I come in?”

Name – Leo Francis, age 46 (a Black man).

Leo says, “Yes Jessie, please come in.”

Jessica enters and tells Leo the details from her diary.

“Sir, these clients are asking for an updated purchase order at the current reduced price of the raw material.”

Leo says, “Okay. If the price has gone down, then make a new purchase order, get my signature, and send it today itself. Also send one copy to dispatch.”

Jessica says, “Okay sir, it will be done.”

Jessica stays standing there.

Leo asks, “What happened, Jessica?”

Jessica says, “Sir, I had told you that I have to go to Stella’s school at 11:15 today.”

Leo says, “Oh yes yes Jessica, I remembered. You go to the school. But come back soon.”

Jessica says, “Oh, thank you sir.”

Jessica goes back to her desk and starts working on the computer. After a while, a print comes out from her printer. Jessica checks the print, signs it, and goes back to Leo’s cabin to give it to him.

Leo reads the print, signs it, and says, “Yes Jessica, it’s fine.” And Leo hands the purchase order back to Jessica.

Jessica goes back to her desk and looks at the clock. It is 11:17.

Jessica shuts down her desktop and leaves for the school.

While driving, Jessica keeps thinking about Stella. A serious expression is visible on her face.

After a ten to twelve minute drive, Jessica reaches the school parking lot, turns off the car engine, and takes a deep breath.

She gets out of the car and reaches the principal’s office.

Jessica says, “May I come in, ma’am?”

“Yes Miss Melton, please come in.”

(Name – Linda Johnson, age 49, a white woman)

“Please have a seat, Miss Melton.”

“Thank you ma’am.”

Principal says, “Miss Melton, last month Stella’s class teacher told me that you never pay Stella’s fees on time. This is the first issue. And I have also heard that Stella is always upset. You don’t let her participate in any competitions. Stella had agreed to join the chess club, but later she said that ‘Dad said no.’”

Jessica’s face becomes even more serious and fear beats in her heart.

Jessica says, “Yes ma’am, all this is true, but from now on I will take care and will not let this happen again.”

Principal says, “How can you be so irresponsible toward your daughter? And why didn’t Stella’s dad come? I have heard that he has never come to school.”

Jessica says, “Yes ma’am, actually Stella’s dad works out of town, so he couldn’t come.”

Principal says, “Miss Melton, I don’t know what it is. Maybe you have some personal matter, but Stella has told us that Dad is at home. So Miss Melton, I don’t know why you lied to me. But from now on keep it in mind, and do not let the things I have told you happen again. Otherwise…”

Jessica says, “Ma’am please don’t do that. From now on I will never let such a situation arise again and I will pay Stella’s fees. Just give me a little time. As soon as I get my salary this month, I will pay the fees immediately.”

Principal says, “Miss Melton, today is September second. Your salary must be on the first, right?”

Jessica says, “Yes ma’am, but the entire month’s salary has gone into expenses.”

Principal says, “Oh Miss Melton, I don’t understand what your problem is. I don’t want to say or hear anything more now. I am giving you one month’s time. Do as you said. I hope it will happen that way. You may go now.”

Jessica says, “Thank you ma’am, thank you very much. You have done me a great favor. I cannot express it in words.”

Principal says, “Okay okay, you may go Miss Melton. And yes, not only the fees but the other things are also important. Keep that in mind.”

Jessica says, “Yes yes ma’am, thank you.”

Jessica comes out of the principal’s office into the parking lot. She looks up at the sky. There is a smile on Jessica’s face. She feels as if she has let out a sigh of relief.

Jessica starts her car and heads toward the office.

Upon reaching the office, she drinks water and goes to her desk, sitting quietly in her chair for a while.

After some time, Jessica scans some documents, works on the computer, and goes again to her boss’s cabin.

Jessica says, “May I come in, sir?”

Leo says, “Yes Miss Melton, please come in.”

Jessica says, “Sir, I have sent the new purchase order to the client. Their reply has also come okay. I have also kept the dispatch department and you in CC.”

Leo says, “Okay Jessica. Thank you.”

It is 1:18 in the afternoon. Jessica looks at the clock.

Other staff in the office start leaving for lunch in the cafeteria.

Name – Maria Lewis, age 36 (a Black lady). Maria looks at Jessica and says, “Hey Jessie, come on, let’s go for lunch.”

Jessica says, “Oh Maria, I haven’t brought lunch today. You go ahead.”

Maria says, “Jessie, then get something from the cafeteria.”

Jessica says, “No no Maria. I had gone to Stella’s school today. I was very hungry, so I ate a burger on the way.”

Maria says, “Have you really eaten?”

Jessica says, “Yes Maria.”

Jessica works in the office all day. Her stomach keeps rumbling. Every ten to fifteen minutes, Jessica goes to the water filter and drinks water. Maria’s attention remains on Jessica throughout the day. Maria understands that something is wrong.

It is six o’clock in the evening. The staff starts rushing to go home.

Jessica shuts down her computer. The sound of Windows shutting down is heard. Maria’s attention is still on Jessica.

Jessica goes to the water filter one last time, drinks water, and starts to leave the office. Maria follows behind her. Maria has become suspicious.

Once downstairs, Maria quickly starts her car, goes ahead, and stops near a food van on the road.

After a while, when she sees Jessica’s car passing by, Maria stops her.

Jessica stops.

Maria says, “Hey Jessie, I am very hungry. Come on, let’s eat something please.”

Jessica says, “Oh Maria, no need for me. You eat please.”

Maria says, “Then no. I won’t eat either. I don’t like eating alone.”

Jessica says, “Okay okay Maria.”

Jessica parks her car and both Jessica and Maria eat one burger each.

Jessica eats that burger as if she had never eaten a burger before. Her stomach feels relieved.

Jessica and Maria chat, laughing, and walk toward the car. Maria also feels satisfied. That one burger made today’s day good.

Jessica heads toward home.

What will happen when Jessica reaches home? What will George be doing? Will Jessica fulfill the promise she made to the principal? What exactly is George like? Why has such a bad situation come upon Jessica?

To know all this, be sure to read the next episode. And please do share your reactions in the comments.

To be continued.

Suhas Avhad (Author, LitNova)

© 2026 LitNova.online. All rights reserved. “When Love Turns into Survival – Story behind Jessica Melton” is a fictional work. No part of this story may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form without prior written permission from the publisher.

Eugene, somewhere near the city. September 02, 2023. It is 8:45 in the morning.

The morning atmosphere is pleasant. On both sides of a narrow road in the small town, nice bungalows can be seen. The traffic of cars and bikes has started.

Jessica Melton is standing on the side of the road. She is holding a school bag on her left shoulder. Her daughter, Stella Melton, age 8, is wearing her school dress and is chattering about something.

Name – Rebecca Beebe, age 58 (an elderly white woman). Rebecca is walking while taking her pet dog (Mogo) for a walk. She sees Jessica and Stella.

Stella says, “Hello Mogo. How are you, my friend?”

Mogo wags his tail upon seeing Stella and looks happy.

Rebecca says with a smile, “Hello Stella, good morning my child.”

Stella says, “Good morning, Miss Beebe.”

Jessica’s mood does not look good. There is worry visible on her face. Jessica is so lost in her thoughts that she does not even notice that Miss Rebecca has arrived.

Rebecca notices this and asks her, “Jessie, what happened, my child?”

Jessica says, “Oh Miss Beebe, I didn’t see you at all. I am sorry!”

Beebe says, “It’s nothing, my Jessie. What are you thinking about so early in the morning? Is there some problem?”

Jessica says, “No no Miss Beebe, nothing. I just didn’t sleep well last night, that’s all. Nothing else.”

Beebe says, “Oh. Did George not let you sleep?”

Jessica says with a laugh, “Oh Miss Beebe, you also joke a lot.”

Just then the school van’s horn sounds, and a yellow school van arrives.

Jessica hands the bag to Stella and says, “Stella, I will come to school at 11:30 today. I have work right now. You go.”

Stella says, “But the teacher has called both Mommy and Daddy.”

The van driver says, “Come on, quickly.”

“Okay okay Stella, please go.”

Stella gets into the van and the van leaves.

Jessica and Beebe chat for a while and walk toward the house.

Jessica reaches home and rings the doorbell. The sound of the bell is heard but there is no response from inside the house. Jessica rings the bell again.

Jessica rings the bell for about 10 minutes, but still gets no response from inside.

Then Jessica goes to the back of the house, quietly takes out a key from a plant pot, and opens the back door.

She enters the house, goes to the bedroom, and tries to wake up George who is sleeping.

Name – George Melton, age 32 (a white man with brownish-black hair). George is under the influence of drugs. He gets up but everything looks blurry to him. Jessica’s face looks to him like his own reflection in a steel spoon.

Jessica shouts at George, “George, we have to go to Stella’s school today.”

Jessica tries to argue with George. But George has no sense left. He is completely intoxicated. He falls back on the bed and goes into a deep sleep.

Jessica sits down on the floor near the bed and says while crying, “Oh George, please improve, George please. Not for me, but at least for our daughter, improve, George!”

Jessica keeps crying and muttering for twenty minutes.

Jessica goes to the bathroom and takes a bath while crying.

After that, Jessica goes to the kitchen and makes an omelet and bread toast.

Meanwhile, George comes there staggering and asks for food. George shouts angrily and demands food.

Jessica serves him bread and omelet on a white plate.

George takes one bite and says, “Hmm, it’s good. Give me orange juice.”

Jessica says, “There is no grocery left at home. Please finish this.”

George gets very angry and shouts.

George opens the fridge. There are beer bottles inside the fridge. He picks up the empty juice tetra pack, opens the cap, and tries to drink. The last two or three drops fall on his tongue.

Jessica watches this whole scene helplessly and blames her own fate.

George takes out two bottles of beer from the fridge, opens the caps, puts the bottle to his mouth, and walks out of the kitchen.

Jessica makes bread and omelet again and eats her breakfast while lost in a whirlpool of thoughts.

Jessica changes her clothes and leaves for the office. She locks the door and sits in her old sedan car. The car again heads in the same direction toward the city.

Upon reaching the city, Jessica parks her car in the parking lot of a tall building. While going up in the elevator, a serious expression is visible on Jessica’s face.

Jessica reaches the office, greets others with “Good morning,” goes to her desk, and turns on the computer. She logs in and checks her mail. While checking one email, she writes something in her diary. Then she goes to her boss’s cabin.

Jessica says, “Sir, may I come in?”

Name – Leo Francis, age 46 (a Black man).

Leo says, “Yes Jessie, please come in.”

Jessica enters and tells Leo the details from her diary.

“Sir, these clients are asking for an updated purchase order at the current reduced price of the raw material.”

Leo says, “Okay. If the price has gone down, then make a new purchase order, get my signature, and send it today itself. Also send one copy to dispatch.”

Jessica says, “Okay sir, it will be done.”

Jessica stays standing there.

Leo asks, “What happened, Jessica?”

Jessica says, “Sir, I had told you that I have to go to Stella’s school at 11:15 today.”

Leo says, “Oh yes yes Jessica, I remembered. You go to the school. But come back soon.”

Jessica says, “Oh, thank you sir.”

Jessica goes back to her desk and starts working on the computer. After a while, a print comes out from her printer. Jessica checks the print, signs it, and goes back to Leo’s cabin to give it to him.

Leo reads the print, signs it, and says, “Yes Jessica, it’s fine.” And Leo hands the purchase order back to Jessica.

Jessica goes back to her desk and looks at the clock. It is 11:17.

Jessica shuts down her desktop and leaves for the school.

While driving, Jessica keeps thinking about Stella. A serious expression is visible on her face.

After a ten to twelve minute drive, Jessica reaches the school parking lot, turns off the car engine, and takes a deep breath.

She gets out of the car and reaches the principal’s office.

Jessica says, “May I come in, ma’am?”

“Yes Miss Melton, please come in.”

(Name – Linda Johnson, age 49, a white woman)

“Please have a seat, Miss Melton.”

“Thank you ma’am.”

Jessica’s face becomes even more serious and fear beats in her heart.

Jessica says, “Yes ma’am, all this is true, but from now on I will take care and will not let this happen again.”

Principal says, “How can you be so irresponsible toward your daughter? And why didn’t Stella’s dad come? I have heard that he has never come to school.”

Jessica says, “Yes ma’am, actually Stella’s dad works out of town, so he couldn’t come.”

Principal says, “Miss Melton, I don’t know what it is. Maybe you have some personal matter, but Stella has told us that Dad is at home. So Miss Melton, I don’t know why you lied to me. But from now on keep it in mind, and do not let the things I have told you happen again. Otherwise…”

Jessica says, “Ma’am please don’t do that. From now on I will never let such a situation arise again and I will pay Stella’s fees. Just give me a little time. As soon as I get my salary this month, I will pay the fees immediately.”

Principal says, “Miss Melton, today is September second. Your salary must be on the first, right?”

Jessica says, “Yes ma’am, but the entire month’s salary has gone into expenses.”

Principal says, “Oh Miss Melton, I don’t understand what your problem is. I don’t want to say or hear anything more now. I am giving you one month’s time. Do as you said. I hope it will happen that way. You may go now.”

Jessica says, “Thank you ma’am, thank you very much. You have done me a great favor. I cannot express it in words.”

Principal says, “Okay okay, you may go Miss Melton. And yes, not only the fees but the other things are also important. Keep that in mind.”