Goodbye, Mr. Regret

"Hello, who's this?"

"It's me, Vince."

Herbert knew that Vince had been helping Little Mute, and that the recent trip abroad had only happened because Vince arranged for a helicopter to fly her out of the country.

He had a hunch that Vince was interested in Little Mute as well, but just for that favor alone, Herbert figured he ought to show Vince a little more courtesy.

Besides, Little Mute trusted Vince.

"What's up? You need something?"

"I tried calling Jessy, but she didn't pick up. Then I found your number and you didn't answer either. I'm standing outside her apartment. Is she with you?"

Herbert hadn't really wanted to share the details with Vince, but knowing Little Mute would probably update him sooner or later, there wasn't much point in hiding anything.

"She hurt her throat. She's in the hospital right now. Just had a minor surgery."

Vince's brow furrowed. "Surgery? That sounds serious."

He remembered taking her to the hospital that day for a checkup. If she'd been feeling unwell, she would've told the doctor. The doctor hadn't mentioned anything, just gave them the medical report in case they needed it for legal

reasons.

Little Mute hadn't told anyone about her treatment for selective mutism, and Herbert didn't feel it was his place to bring it up either. The treatment had only just started after all, and it didn't seem right to talk about it yet.

just a

hospital? I'll

the time difference first? By the time you wake up, she'll probably be up too.

still bandaged up. Herbert wasn't about to let that

send me your

"Will do."

polite. "Alright, I'll hang up

after him. He paused for a moment before

"No problem."

call ended, Vince left

was just in time to head to Aetherion, where

room,

chair and sat by her

wouldn't have told

Mute was in touch with Vince. When she woke up, she'd

gazed at her, reaching out with a trembling hand, wanting to brush her cheek, to wipe

faded the marks were, he figured it

imagine how she'd managed to get through

fingertips were about to touch her face, Herbert

shouldn't take advantage of