Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Jessica never knew that falling in love with someone could be inherited.

"What? You said Dad went with you? Oh no, why didn't you take me? Why did you leave me at home alone? I want to go too..."

Jessica had just picked up the scissors. The moment she squeezed the handles, she accidentally snipped her own finger.

A bright bead of blood welled up instantly, vivid and red.

She stared at her bleeding fingertip, eyes empty, her mind blank.

She sat there in a daze for several minutes before Henry came over again.

"Mom, Dad wants to talk to you."

Henry switched his smartwatch to speaker mode.

Timothy's low, slightly hoarse voice crackled from the tiny speaker.

"Jessica, Henry wants to come to Aetherion. Book a flight to Marisbright and bring him over. We're getting married, and you still haven't met my grandfather. Take this chance to visit him."

Jessica couldn't respond; the smartwatch didn't allow for it.

If Timothy called her, he'd sometimes tell her to check her messages, then hang up. At other times, he'd say what he needed right then and there-no need for a message, just a command, a notice of what she must do.

soon as he finished

glanced at the screen:

used Sheila's phone for

watch back onto his wrist and sidled up close to Jessica, practically bouncing with excitement. "Mom, can you book the tickets now?

caught the faint, elegant scent of perfume on his clothes-the same

morning, which meant Henry had spent the morning cuddled up with

looked at her son's beaming face and suddenly felt he was a stranger. Six years of

she supposed

bleeding, exposed in plain sight, but Henry didn't seem

"Mom?"

faded; he frowned in confusion.

course she

just didn't answer. Instead, she held out

had stained her entire

said, "Mom, it's just your left hand. You can still

her heart go

left Henry and walked