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?"

to his

just stared at him, detached, as if nothing about this mattered

thick with emotion. "It's been so

to hurt

to take her shower last night, burning hotter with every

of nicotine, no bottle of whiskey, not even a freezing shower

make things right, desperate to hold her gently,

even say how things had gone so wrong in the

Only silence

the corner of her mouth. The memory of his own animalistic behavior twisted his

name rolled off his tongue, deep and warm-his

he called her

darkness, in the throes of passion, would he

murmured her name again and again. But for

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

a startled bird.