Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Jessica returned to the hotel earlier than planned.

She'd thought about switching to a different hotel, but realized it didn't matter—if Timothy could track her down here, he'd find her anywhere.

So, she decided not to bother.

Maybe it was the weight of her emotions, but as soon as she got back, a dull ache started in her abdomen and wouldn't let up.

She took her medication, but it didn't help much.

Now, she lay on the bed, unable to sleep-pain gnawing at her, keeping her wide awake.

Meanwhile, Timothy's call was cut off the moment he dialed.

That's when it struck him: Jessica had blocked his number.

A strange, hollow ache settled in his chest.

He turned back to the hospital room, checked Henry's forehead with a hand towel -only to find it was already warm.

He quickly wrung out a fresh towel, folded it, and placed it gently on Henry's brow. Then, slipping Henry's smartwatch from his wrist, Timothy stepped into the hallway and tried Jessica's number once more.

Jessica's phone buzzed.

The caller ID said Henry.

She froze, gripping the phone tightly.

torn, but in the end, she let the call

looking to someone else to fill the role of 'Mom.'

she was

let him slowly get used to life without

endless ringing on the speakerphone, until the

must have lost

even answer her own

as deep

buy her that

person a small gesture of apology for how distant he'd

accepting the olive branch, she just kept pushing him

Unbelievable.

to the hospital room and

was a long,

though a mild temperature lingered. At

and washbasin, tidied up the room, and carried everything

look at Timothy's drawn face and spoke up, worry etched in

He just nodded.

"Go home

it," he said

I can do. You should really get some sleep. And if you run into Jessica, be gentle with her, okay? Kids recover faster when their own mom is

lips pressed into a thin, hard

If he coddled her any more, she'd