Goodbye, Mr. Regret

His voice wasn't loud, but it still carried the edge of a command.

Jessica's hand was trapped in his grip; she couldn't respond, forced to accept his ridiculous charity.

Her face remained expressionless.

Timothy remembered once passing through a department store and, on a whim, spotting a pair of pearl earrings that seemed perfect for her. When he brought them home, her eyes had shimmered with light, like stars.

He leaned in close, his voice husky. "Didn't you love it when I gave you presents? This is a special ring-it plays music. I had it made just for you."

Seven years. They'd been married for seven years.

With his sharp mind and keen perception, there was no way he didn't know she loved him.

He was skilled at toying with her feelings.

He knew how to say the cruelest things to hurt her.

He'd done the harshest things—almost destroyed her.

And then, as if nothing ever happened, he'd act like everything was fine.

He'd slap her with one hand, and offer her a sweet with the other.

He made her feel like she was nothing to him-cheap, disposable.

Suddenly, Timothy released her hand. As Jessica tried to get up, he pulled her back, wrapping his arms tightly around her waist and pressing his face to her chest.

me stay like this for a

his exhaustion; she just felt suffocated by

fell silent, and the room grew

a while, she heard his breathing

She frowned.

really fallen asleep so

for what felt like five minutes before she tried to

go. Let me hold you just

eyes were closed. She couldn't tell if he was talking in his

he wasn't really

let him rest

Sitting like that,

somehow winding around Timothy's neck

back in the room she and Timothy had shared as husband and

glanced at the clock on the wall-it was already

She'd slept so deeply!

how she'd gotten

her illness

Ines's exhibition in Riverside

was already two. The gallery

out of bed and hurried to get

noticed the ring on her finger and