Goodbye, Mr. Regret

She had found her voice again, though it was still soft and uncertain.

Jessica remembered what it felt like to speak-she used to talk all the time. But now, her vocal cords felt clumsy, her words shaky and imprecise.

Herbert patiently guided her. At first, he read aloud and had her repeat after him, keeping the pace slow and deliberate. Gradually, he encouraged her to keep up with his natural rhythm, reciting together.

After a few rounds, Jessica could feel a hint of progress her words were just a little clearer, her throat just a little stronger.

She'd never seen Herbert work like this before-so focused, so meticulous. It struck her that he was really, truly exceptional.

After about twenty minutes, Herbert stopped. He handed her a small bottle of

throat spray.

"Here, spray this."

This was a soothing formula he'd made just for her, designed to protect her recovering vocal cords. After each practice session, it eased the discomfort and helped begin the healing process.

Jessica tried it, feeling a cool, refreshing sensation in her throat-relief spreading almost instantly.

She set the bottle down and signed, "What kind of medicine is this?"

"I made it myself," Herbert replied with a smile. "Just use it as needed."

Jessica had so many questions, but their exercises had kept her too busy to ask until now.

signed again, “Didn't you say a friend of yours spent seven years developing the treatment for aphasia? But you seem so familiar with the whole process-and you even

Aetherion too, remember? My friend was leading the research, but I helped out with the experiments all the time. I know the treatment inside and out. Otherwise, I wouldn't

was the

think I ever

"This is my hospital. Why

take all

"If

keep being so polite,

but to let

how long it would be before she could have the

goes," Herbert said. "Don't worry. I'll

another surgery, and Jessica left the

had given

she lost

always been there to help. Now, he was

given

gratitude, Jessica hailed

she headed straight for

clothing and accessories. But ties, cufflinks, belts-those were so common, and didn't feel quite right