Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Henry paced anxiously outside Sheila's emergency room, looking every bit the little grown-up as he wore a path back and forth.

Meanwhile, Timothy was waiting outside the door of Jessica's emergency room.

Jessica had collapsed from a sudden high fever brought on by stress. It wasn't long before she gradually opened her eyes, still groggy. Her attending physician, noticing she was awake, hurried to her side.

"Ms. Greene, you can't keep neglecting your health like this! Your condition is already serious, and now you've let yourself get soaked and come down with a high fever. You have to be admitted for treatment-no more delays!"

Drifting in and out of consciousness, Jessica remembered fainting in Timothy's

arms.

Did he bring her to the hospital?

If he was just outside, it wouldn't take much for him to find out about her cancer.

If he knew, there was no way he'd let her keep working. She couldn't let that happen.

had to find a way to get away

couldn't answer the doctor's questions aloud. Flustered, she mimed

but I can't be admitted right now. My husband is outside. If he finds out I have cancer, he won't be able to handle it. Please-I'm begging you-help

the only way she could appeal to the doctor's compassion, hoping he might keep her secret

Your family will find out eventually, and they'll only worry more if you keep it from them. The outcome won't change by hiding it, but treatment could give

to go abroad soon, hoping doctors there could give her a

they wouldn't care, and she couldn't bear to be hurt by their indifference. But now, she

anyone else, she didn't want them

planning to go soon and see if my chances improve. Please, just help me keep

secret before, moyed by the sight of

hospital visits, always for some minor complication, made it harder for

to insist she be admitted, to keep her from getting worse. But seeing her so desperate, he couldn't bring himself to refuse. He nodded

the notepad and pen, closed