The more I thought about it, the more a vague memory from 2009 came back to me. I was online filling out my taxes and it said I owed Massachusetts $500. I decided that couldn’t possibly be right and I wouldn’t file a return. I left for Africa.

I relate this story to my mom. She says,

“I guess you figured future Jessica wouldn’t mind paying.”

Future Jessica? I was 26-years-old, there was no future Jessica. Now there is a future Jessica and she does mind paying, but I forgive past Jessica. And maybe someday all the Jessicas will get their act together.