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.

of her pocket-it

up and typed out a message to

anymore. Can you come and

of her, Jessica knew Sallie would never

Timothy's only

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

there as

fulfill her

message came from

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

at the words, the ache

took a deep breath. She couldn't let herself think too much

now.

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

or angry she felt, she couldn't really hold it against her

were nothing but paranoia, if she'd misunderstood everything, she'd make a new

her best to set Henry back on the right

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