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.

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

everyone else, she had to scribble 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 would save her time,

diamond this size

"It's too valuable. I

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

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

typed, "How much was it? Let me

haven't seen each other in years, and you're quibbling over a little gift?

stand and typed

things. "Just remember-don't get

waving goodbye and watching

car disappeared down the street,

strong

Jessica looked up.

clear dark eyes met Timothy's,

tried to push him away, hand pressed against his solid

down, sliding the box with the necklace from her

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

with his thumb, studying the necklace

matched the ring he had