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."

give

so young-too young to understand the complicated mess between adults. But he did

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

she would've arrived sooner. Maybe then

her away, he was still her little boy. She only had six months left. No matter how much he hurt her, she couldn't just let go of the

to

for the driver, then cheerfully ushered Jessica out the door, hoping this visit would help mend things

Sheila were with Henry at the children's emergency room. While the

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

little while later, a nurse came in with the medication for Henry's IV. To Henry's surprise, the nurse was his classmate's mother. She smiled and greeted their little family

ruffled Henry's hair and said softly, "Be brave, Henry. It'll sting a

clung to

here with me," he