Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Jessica's beautiful eyes brimmed with despair.

She signed with aching hands, "I can do papercutting, and I can also—"

"That's enough."

Timothy cut her off mid-sentence. "Those little patterns you taught Henry to make -how much do you think they're worth? Could you even buy a bottle of water with that?"

Jessica's lips curled into a bitter smile.

For most people, a bottle of water costs just a dollar or two.

But Timothy was different. The water his family drank came from Hawaii-deep ocean water, drawn from a thousand meters below the Pacific, concentrated, then diluted a hundredfold for drinking. It contained dozens of trace minerals, the magnesium content was off the charts compared to regular water, and a 500ml bottle cost over five hundred dollars.

One could only imagine how extravagant the rest of their life was.

Jessica signed again, fingers dancing, "You were born into privilege. You don't know what struggle means. Most people in this world drink water that costs a dollar a bottle-why shouldn't I?"

The thought of Jessica drinking cheap water made Timothy's heart twist painfully. She was his wife! She didn't need to live like ordinary people.

He could provide her with water that cost five hundred, even five thousand dollars a bottle if she wanted it.

grew stormy. "You really want to

quiet grace. "I don't see it as hardship. Everyone has their own idea of happiness and suffering. Being forbidden to divorce

was

Jessica back until she was flush against the

smoldering with a fire that flickered

out there? You can't speak, you'd never land a respectable job. Even if you did find work, all you'd get is ridicule

now, there wasn't even

able to speak-there were so many things

she went out, yes, people would mock her, or stare at her like she was something

of that? Maybe even

slid down beside her, sitting

"I'm exhausted these days. Can you stop pushing for once? Let me

turning to look at him—but his eyes

her hands

being able to speak; if someone wasn't watching, it didn't matter how clear her signing was no

tried to slip

as she shifted, Timothy's long arm slid behind her neck, holding her close, giving her no