Goodbye, Mr. Regret

She shrieked and collapsed to the floor.

But as she fell, she made sure to hold the pearl necklace in the hand that would hit the ground first.

The pearls scraped against the floor. The string snapped. Pearls scattered everywhere, rolling across the tiles.

Timothy's hand, which had been holding a paper bag of breakfast, suddenly went slack. The bag tumbled from his fingers, spilling food onto the ground.

Jessica frowned, barely pausing, and made to walk away.

Sheila, still on her knees, grabbed desperately at Jessica's pant leg. Her voice trembled. "I'm apologizing to you so sincerely-can't you just accept it?"

Timothy stared in shock at the pearls strewn across the floor. For a long moment, he couldn't move. Then he forced himself forward.

His lips pressed into a thin, bloodless line. He radiated a cold, cutting rage.

He reached Sheila in two quick strides, yanked her up, and pulled her into his arms. His eyes, sharp as glass, fixed on Jessica with unyielding fury.

He raised his hand, aiming a slap at Jessica's face.

Sheila, terrified, buried her face in Timothy's chest, unable to watch.

Timothy's palm stopped just short of Jessica's cheek, the air from his swing whispering across her skin.

He couldn't bring himself to do it.

slapped him before. Not even now, after she'd

she could feel the cold draft brush

Her husband.

she had once loved more than

going to hit her, for the sake of the woman

landed on her cheek-but it landed squarely on

back, his words low and

She turned

after this, Timothy would finally agree to

she could just make Sheila's voice. "Timothy, it

fault. I

apologize "

"You think

Jessica was his wife.

his aunt. Jessica's

to accept her elder kneeling before

slid shut, cutting

slowly knelt to pick up

out to get breakfast, I noticed a jewelry box under the chair. I opened it and saw it was your mother's necklace. I ran out to give it back

it's my