Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Jessica shook her head and signed, "Don't tell anyone for now."

Herbert had said he could fix her voice, but she had no intention of spreading the news before she'd actually recovered.

That just wasn't her style.

If something went wrong and she didn't get better, she'd be the one left embarrassed.

"I'm guessing you don't want anyone else to know, either. Let me change your bandage and take off the gauze, so you won't have to fumble for answers if anyone gets nosy."

While Herbert went to get the medical kit, Jessica checked her phone. She had missed calls from Vince, and one from Ines.

Ines had sent a message, too, asking after her.

Jessica replied right away.

[Don't worry about me, Professor. I've arrived at Aetherion and everything is fine.]

She'd always been the type to share good news and keep troubles to herself.

The whole divorce ordeal-how could she possibly explain that in a few lines of text?

She would wait until she was back home for the court proceedings, then meet with her mentor in person and tell her everything. No need to make her worry now.

Ines replied quickly.

relax. Communicate well with Mr. Smith while you're abroad

sent back a

my best. I

back in, carrying the

to turn sideways on the chair so he could reach her

on a mask and fresh gloves, then carefully unwound

he clipped up her long hair to expose the

his surgical assistant

cotton swab in iodine and gently

he asked, "Does it hurt, Little

forefinger pinching together in a tiny

mask, his motions even gentler as he cleaned the

care made Jessica

Timothy, she'd never let another man

was

it.

it were any other patient, he'd be just

the incision, and let her hair fall back

Herbert steadied her as she sat

another meal of soup-nothing solid, since

I'd do without

me. When you were a kid, you took

handed it to her.