Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Jessica made her way to Timothy's hospital room, opened the door, and walked over to his bedside. She signed, *"You should go."*

Timothy had never been dismissed like this before-no one had ever asked him to leave before he'd made the decision himself.

Jessica was the first.

A wave of bitter laughter rippled through him.

His dark eyes locked onto Jessica's face. "What happened was my fault. Didn't you see how guilty and sorry I was afterward? We've been married seven years— other than that one incident, when have I ever let you down? Don't you think you've been unreasonable lately?"

He spewed the words out in anger, and saying them only deepened his frustration. His voice grew even colder, harsher. "Think about it—if you hadn't pushed me away over and over, would I have done that to you?"

Jessica stared at him, stunned, her lips curling into a frosty smile.

He was actually trying to blame her.

By his logic, was every girl who'd ever been hurt just at fault for being attractive or vulnerable?

Wasn't it the aggressor who chose to ignore the law-to trample on basic decency?

And how could he have the nerve to claim that, apart from that incident, he'd never wronged her?

It was all so infuriating.

ounce of emotion on this. Her time was running out, and she still needed

doctor had only recently told her she needed to keep her spirits up.

wearily, *"Fine, it's all my fault. You're blameless.

didn't budge. He had no intention of

up your time. I just want to get to the point, and

Jessica almost laughed.

by wanting to talk, and now

to hear another

on, unless it's about the divorce, I have nothing to

made his

to boil over-he'd been patient enough. Jessica had turned his life

to care at all that he was hurt, didn't even ask about

pressed his lips together, his dark eyes

the entryway, slung it over her

wouldn't leave, then

the elevator doors closed behind

that had happened

he had the