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.

out of her pocket-it was

pick up. Instead, she hung up and typed out a message to

night. I can't hold out anymore. Can

knew Sallie

Timothy's

she'd helped raise. Sallie had never married or had children of her own-she

I'll be there as soon as I

outside Henry's room, determined to fulfill her duty as

message

made a huge compromise for you. Why did you get

at the words, the ache in her chest nearly

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

now.

was still young-there was time to set

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

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

she'd do her best

live, she couldn't just stand by and