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.

language. Herbert only knew it because, after they'd reconnected, he'd begged her to teach him, finding

with everyone else, she had to scribble notes or type messages on her

and it would speak for her-no more awkward moments or delays waiting for

a diamond this size

typed into her phone: "It's too valuable.

not just her words, but her own

pressed the necklace into her hand. "Silly, the diamond's just a replica.

typed, "How much was it? Let me pay

other in years, and you're quibbling over a little gift? Are you trying to make me

stand and typed two words: "Thank

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

goodbye and watching as he

down the street, she turned and

warm, strong hand caught

Jessica looked up.

clear dark eyes met Timothy's,

to push him away, hand pressed against his solid chest, but he was

bent down, sliding the box with

couldn't speak, and with one hand trapped, she

flicked open the lid with his

ring he had once bought a