Goodbye, Mr. Regret

"Mabel, thank you for always caring about me. It's just... this family doesn't need me anymore."

Mabel stared at the message glowing on her phone screen, her heart sinking. Mrs. Carter must have overheard what young Henry said earlier.

She hurried to reply, "Please, Mrs. Carter, don't overthink it."

A bitter, weary smile tugged at the corners of Jessica's lips.

It wasn't just in her head. She really had seen it all with her own eyes.

"Oh, that's right!" Mabel suddenly remembered what happened after Henry came home from school. She quickly added, "Mrs. Carter, you're still very important to Henry. When he got back from school today and saw what you brought home, he realized it was a ring—a ring Mr. Carter bought especially for you at the Oakwood charity auction. It was his way of showing he cares. Henry was afraid if you returned it, Mr. Carter would be upset, so he asked me to help him keep it a secret from his dad."

Mabel hoped this might persuade Jessica to stay.

Jessica looked at her, uncertain.

Mabel pressed on, "He's trying to protect you. Henry just had a fever, and when he needed someone, he called for you. Kids are so vulnerable when they're sick. He waited and waited, and when you didn't come, he might have said things he didn't mean. Please, don't take it to heart."

something give way inside

young to understand the complicated mess between adults.

if she should go to him. But the moment she heard him calling out for her "Mom!"—she couldn't hold back

maybe she would've arrived

still her little boy. She only had six months left. No matter how

message to Mabel, letting her know

cheerfully ushered Jessica out the door, hoping this visit

Henry at the children's emergency room. While the

just a typical fever, though his temperature was a little high. After the checkup, the doctor recommended an IV.

later, a nurse came in with the medication for Henry's IV. To Henry's surprise, the nurse was his classmate's mother. She

and said softly, "Be brave, Henry. It'll sting

Henry clung to

here