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.

everyone could read sign language. Herbert only knew it because, after they'd reconnected, he'd begged her to teach

notes or type

she had this necklace, she could just type, and it would speak for her-no more awkward moments or delays waiting for someone to read her words. It

this size couldn't be

into her phone: "It's

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

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

was it?

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

smiled, letting his kindness stand and typed

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

waving goodbye and watching as

down the street,

strong hand caught her wrist, pinning

Jessica looked up.

met Timothy's, his gaze

him away, hand pressed against his solid chest,

the box with the necklace

one hand trapped, she

with his thumb, studying the

design matched the ring he had once bought a matching