NPC!
Panemi - the secret relationship
During her time as a padawan, Essa became involved in an on-and-off relationship with another padawan. Though Essa was generally a very by-the-book Jedi, this other padawan, Panemi, encouraged her to bend the rules a bit.
Panemi was a Zabrak Jedi, approximately two years older than Essa, studying under Master Urvell Tex. Although they had crossed paths during the early years of their padawanships, the girls formed a close friendship during an extended mission to provide help to a planet in the throes of a tough civil war. Essa was 16 years old and Panemi was 18.
Eventually, feelings began to grow between the two, with Panemi often suggesting that they go explore the forest surrounding their small outpost under the guise of duel meditation. Essa initially thought that they would actually be meditating, though she eventually picked up on what Panemi was implying.
Their relationship continued in secret for a few more years, ending just after Essa was knighted in 42 BBY. While Essa had always seen the relationship between them as mainly a friends-with-benefits situation, Panemi had gotten far more attached, going as far to admit that she wanted to be with Essa forever.
A distance formed between the two, and Panemi eventually went for a self imposed exile while she reflected on the situation. Ultimately, Panemi makes the difficult choice to leave the Jedi Order, walking away from the life she knew to work as a pilot and mechanic.
She dies in the aftermath of Order 66 after her name and status as a former Jedi are released to the public.
Essa still carries feelings of embarrassment about what happened, wondering why she hadn't ended things sooner. Though she keeps this information secret most of the time, she has told a precious few people about it after comments were made about her being a 'perfect jedi'.