Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Jessica's fingers tightened ever so slightly around the knife.

What was the point of his words now-did he expect her to be moved?

Sorry. That wasn't going to happen.

Timothy caught sight of her listless eyes and the glint of metal in her grip. His voice came low and rough. "About last night... I'm sorry. I lost control."

He sounded calm, almost gentle, as if he wanted to reach out and soothe the bruises he'd left on her cheek.

Jessica lifted her gaze, meeting Timothy's deep, ocean-blue eyes. A mirthless smile tugged at her lips.

Their marriage was unraveling, inching toward its end.

He played the same game over and over, each time cutting her heart open, letting it bleed anew.

Jessica's cold, bitter smile sliced right through Timothy.

He'd gone too far last night.

"It was my fault, I admit it, Jessy..." Suddenly, Timothy caught her hand, pried the knife from her loose grip, and tossed it aside. He crouched down in front of her, guiding her hand to his cheek. "Go ahead. Hit me. Don't stop until you're not angry anymore, okay?"

hand to his face, her fingers stayed limp,

at him, detached, as if nothing about

of helplessness pressing down on him. He lowered his head onto her lap, voice thick with emotion. "It's been so long since we've been close. I just... I missed you. I missed you so much I couldn't help myself. I never

meant to

for her had started the moment she went to take her shower last night, burning

bottle of whiskey, not even a freezing shower could smother the

right, desperate to hold her gently, to coax

even say how things had gone

Only silence hung

catching on the cut at the corner of her mouth. The memory of

name rolled off his tongue, deep and warm-his voice the same way she used to love

called

of passion, would he whisper

again and again. But for her, there

hand, elegant and trembling, reached for her face, wanting to comfort her, to ask

Jessica recoiled, flinching from his touch like a startled bird. She shook uncontrollably, her