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.

fished it out of her pocket-it

she hung up

all night. I can't hold out anymore. Can you come and

her, Jessica knew Sallie would never leave

Timothy's

helped raise. Sallie had never married or had children of her own-she doted on Henry as if he were

there as

stayed outside Henry's room, determined to fulfill her duty as a mother, waiting

new message came from

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

at the words, the ache in her chest

She couldn't let herself think too much about all

now.

astray, but he was still young-there was time to set

how hurt or angry she felt, she couldn't really hold it

wait until Timothy returned, talk everything through with him. If all her suspicions were nothing but paranoia, if she'd misunderstood everything,

what, she'd do her best to

she couldn't just stand by