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?"

her hand to his face, her fingers stayed

at him, detached, as if nothing about

felt the weight 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

to

moment she went to take her shower last night, burning

whiskey, not even

over, desperate to make things right, desperate to hold her gently,

how things

nothing. Only silence hung

his eyes catching on the cut at the corner of her mouth. The memory of his own animalistic behavior twisted

rolled off his tongue, deep and warm-his voice the same way

called

in the darkness, in the throes of passion, would he whisper Jessy

again. But for her, there had

trembling, reached for her face, wanting to comfort her,

flinching from his touch like a startled bird. She shook