Goodbye, Mr. Regret

"I'm in Capital City right now. If I change the delivery address, when can I expect to receive the package?"

"If it's within the same city, you'll usually get it pretty early-definitely by tomorrow morning at the latest."

Timothy glanced around the hospital room. Sheila was still lying there, eyes closed. It was already late. Even if he wanted to talk to Jessica, it would have to wait until tomorrow.

"Alright, I'll send you the new address. Please arrange it as soon as possible."

Timothy forwarded the address of Jessica's previous hotel to the store clerk, along with his own phone number.

Sheila's injuries weren't nearly bad enough to leave her unconscious.

She just wanted to keep Timothy by her side a little longer, so she pretended to be asleep.

She heard everything he said outside the room.

So, the swan brooch he'd gotten wasn't for her after all.

She'd seen the news online.

Timothy had bought up every limited-edition brooch from each state in the country. She'd thought he just didn't want anyone to have the same one as her.

But in truth, he didn't want anyone to have the same one as Jessica.

Weren't those two swans supposed to represent their "Happy" and "Lucky"?

Jessica-mute

hidden beneath the covers, curled

The next morning.

Sheila woke.

cue,

He answered.

is this Timothy? There's

at the front desk—I'll pick

pocketed his phone and turned to Sheila. "I need to step out for

"Timothy."

me to finish that piece as soon as possible. I worked on it pretty much all

whether Sheila could become Ines's

"Sure."

my laptop bag for

straight from Riverside, heading directly to the hospital.

laptop bag were both in

retrieved her laptop and handed it

to her piece: The Grand

at The Gilded Whisper Estates the night before last, putting the finishing touches on the design and making careful

original creation. Sheila had always been confident in her animation skills, especially

sure Timothy-and Ines-would