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.

this for a while. I'm exhausted.

pity him for his exhaustion; she just felt suffocated by his iron grip

fell silent, and the room grew

she heard his breathing become slow

She frowned.

Timothy really fallen

kept still for what felt like five

go. Let me hold you just a

looked down-his eyes were closed. She couldn't tell if he was talking in his sleep or

wasn't really

Jessica let him rest his face against

Sitting

somehow

eyes again, she was back in the room she and Timothy had shared

at the clock on the wall-it was already two

She'd slept so deeply!

how

illness getting

Ines's

was already two. The gallery

Jessica scrambled out of bed and

her finger and