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.

read sign language. Herbert only knew it because, after they'd reconnected, he'd

to scribble notes or type messages on her phone and show people the

would speak for her-no more awkward moments or delays waiting for someone to read her words. It would save her time,

a diamond this size couldn't be

phone: "It's too valuable.

her words, but her own cadence and inflection—exactly the

her hand. "Silly, the diamond's just a replica. I was

Jessica typed, "How much was it? Let me

years, and you're quibbling over

smiled, letting his kindness stand and

"Just remember-don't get the necklace wet, and try to get some sleep.

waving goodbye and watching as he

disappeared down the street, she turned and unlocked her

when a warm, strong hand caught her

Jessica looked up.

dark eyes met Timothy's, his gaze

hand pressed against his

the box

speak, and with one hand trapped,

lid with his thumb, studying

matched the ring he had