Goodbye, Mr. Regret

After her shower, Jessica settled down at the desk and began sketching patterns onto the fabric spread before her.

She knew the fabric would fray once it was cut, and since she didn't have the right stiffening spray at home, she'd had a professional at the textile market handle it for her.

At least she wasn't a stranger to crafts-years of helping Henry with his paper- cutting projects had kept her hands nimble and her lines steady.

Her movements were fluid, almost instinctive.

Still, after that dizzy spell this morning-passing out in the car and ending up in the hospital-she wasn't quite herself. A dull ache pulsed in her abdomen.

When she'd first heard the diagnosis-cancer-she hadn't believed it. She'd always felt healthy, never had any pain. The only time she could recall real discomfort was that one day her stomach hurt so badly she'd gone to the hospital -and that was when her world shattered.

Life could change in an instant.

The doctor had warned her: if she was feeling pain, it meant things were already serious.

Ever since then, even the smallest twinge seemed magnified.

She stood up and took a couple of pills, waiting for the pain to subside, then quietly returned to her work.

Ten minutes later, there was a soft chime.

The door opened.

turned. Timothy had

narrowed,

entered with a chill in his

ignoring him, continuing her careful lines

cold, his handsome face set

to her, yet she didn't even

moment, he lit a

her hand pausing for just a second before she forced herself

a while, then finally spoke, his voice low and gravelly—almost beautiful in its roughness. "So,

her head

the bedroom was the scratch

pencil from her hand and tossed it

really going to keep

remained soft and distant, yet her eyes glistened

something tightened in Timothy's

He released her jaw.

to my grandfather. It

suit pocket, he produced a velvet box. He took out the ring inside-a brilliant

sparkled, catching