Goodbye, Mr. Regret

No matter whom the professor chose as a mentee, as long as it was someone he had set his sights on, Jessica was always happy for him.

After all, the professor never made such decisions lightly. Anyone he picked was sure to make real contributions to the future of animation.

Timothy and Sheila were both in Capital City. Jessica hadn't really wanted to go, but with nowhere else to be and an unshakable longing to see her mentor, she found herself considering it anyway.

On the day the professor visited The Gilded Whisper Estates, Jessica couldn't muster the courage to go out and greet him.

People always want to be close to those they care about.

After a moment's hesitation, Jessica booked herself a flight to Capital City.

After lunch, Timothy returned to his room to pack his suitcase.

"Timothy, are you heading home already?" Sheila asked.

"Yeah," he replied, "I promised Jessica I'd make it up to her for missing her birthday."

Sheila felt her heart sink.

Ines is hosting an

sponsored, so he knew about it—he just hadn't realized it

He paused, considering.

"Alright," he agreed.

creating her piece,

Estates, Ines had said she'd consider mentoring her-she just needed a final push, something to tip the balance. That "push" would be Sheila's new animation,

she was a child. Timothy was confident in

another student before-one with remarkable intuition and creativity—but that student had given up her career for love and marriage. Someone who lacked ambition like that was unlikely to go

surgery after surgery on her vocal cords. Even when she faced the possibility that she might never speak again, she never gave up. She

her art

Jessica you'd be home today? If you did, maybe you should

actually give her a date," Timothy replied. "I just told her this trip would take two

only

he left after the exhibition, he'd only be delayed by about

minor hardly seemed worth

still in the hospital, and Jessica's looking after him alone. As her husband,

that Sheila was right. He had