Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Jessica just stared at Henry, silent.

Henry thought she must be upset, so he hurried to explain. "Mom, you've always cared about me most, right? You wouldn't want me to be teased by others, would you? When we're alone, you'll always be my mom. But could you let Miss Sheila pretend to be my mom in front of everyone else? Just for show-would that be okay?"

Jessica's lips trembled.

This was the child she'd carried for nine long months.

She felt a deep, helpless ache rising inside her, the kind that makes you want to cry but leaves you with no tears.

Suddenly, a metallic taste filled her throat. She clamped a hand over her mouth and rushed out of the hospital room.

She doubled over in the hallway, retching.

When she pulled her hand away, she saw a smear of blood in her palm.

Tilting her head back, she closed her eyes for a moment, then walked toward the public restroom.

She turned on the tap and rinsed her hand clean, watching the blood swirl away, then splashed cold water on her face, desperate to wash away the tears threatening to spill.

She wandered out, numb, barely feeling the floor beneath her feet.

rang. She fished it out of

didn't pick up. Instead, she hung up and

out anymore. Can you come and take over

her, Jessica knew Sallie would never

was Timothy's only

Timothy was Sallie's younger brother, the one she'd helped raise. Sallie had never married or

it. I'll be there as soon

fulfill her duty as a mother,

new message came from

already made a huge compromise for you. Why did you get upset and leave? Are

stared at the words, the ache in her

She couldn't let

now.

son's character had gone astray, but he was still young-there was

hurt or angry she felt, she couldn't

suspicions were nothing but paranoia, if she'd misunderstood everything, she'd make a new decision-she'd give father and son another

best to set Henry

had six months left to live, she couldn't just stand by and watch Henry become someone she