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 I look forward

back a

best. I won't let you

back in, carrying

sideways on the chair

on a mask and fresh gloves, then carefully unwound the gauze that circled her head a couple

he clipped up her long

his surgical assistant to shave

in iodine and gently cleaned

a low voice, he asked, "Does it hurt,

and forefinger pinching together

his mask, his motions even gentler as he cleaned the

care made Jessica

let another

herself-Herbert was her doctor.

it.

other patient, he'd be

done, Herbert applied a fresh, small piece of gauze, covering only the incision, and

as she sat up. "You can

brought her another meal of soup-nothing solid, since her

I'd do without you -it would be so hard on my

off. "Don't thank me. When you were a kid, you took care of me more

container and handed it to