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.

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

back a

best. I

came back in, carrying the

sideways on the chair so he could reach

then carefully unwound the gauze that circled her head a couple of

her long

Herbert had only asked his surgical assistant to shave

a cotton swab in

voice, he asked,

her hand, her thumb and forefinger pinching together in a

down his mask, his motions even gentler as he cleaned the wound, trying not to

care made Jessica

never let another

she quickly reminded herself-Herbert was her doctor.

it.

other patient, he'd be just as

was done, Herbert applied a fresh, small piece of gauze, covering only the incision, and let her hair fall back into place. You'd hardly know she'd just had minor

her as she sat up. "You can

solid,

much. I don't know what I'd do without you -it would

a kid, you took care of me more than

the food container and handed it to