Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Jessica hesitated, unsure if she should hand her phone to Herbert.

But Herbert had already slipped it from her grasp.

He tapped away in the app store, quickly downloading a new app.

After a moment, he typed a line into the app: "Little Mute, how does this voice sound?"

A stranger's female voice came from somewhere nearby.

"Do you like it?"

He typed again, the same gentle voice repeating his words.

Jessica realized the sound was coming from the necklace.

Her eyes lit up with surprise. She had never seen a necklace like this-it was fascinating.

And the voice sounded eerily similar to her own, as if it carried echoes of her past.

Jessica hadn't been born mute.

Herbert handed her phone back to her.

"With this app, you just type what you want to say," he explained. "The software can mimic your tone, too. And the more you use it, the more natural it gets."

Jessica's heart skipped. The prospect was tempting.

after they'd reconnected, he'd begged her to

else, she had to scribble notes or type messages on her phone and show people the

her-no more awkward moments or delays waiting for someone to read

a diamond this size

"It's too valuable. I

not just her words, but her own cadence and inflection—exactly the way she imagined herself

into her hand. "Silly, the diamond's just a replica. I was worried you'd be upset it

"How much was it? Let

seen each other in years, and you're quibbling over a little gift? Are

letting his kindness stand and

gathering his things. "Just remember-don't get the necklace wet, and try to get

nodded, waving goodbye and watching as

disappeared down the street,

strong hand caught her

Jessica looked up.

clear dark eyes met Timothy's,

push him away, hand pressed against his solid chest, but he was unmovable—tall, powerful,

box with

and with one

open the lid with

he