Goodbye, Mr. Regret

"I just wanted to check on him. As for anything I needed to say, I already said it when he came out of surgery."

Sallie stared at Jessica, barely able to fathom how the woman who used to have eyes only for Timothy could now seem so indifferent.

"Are you really giving up on him?"

"I'm giving up on the marriage, not his life. Of course I don't want anything to happen to him. But at this point, only the doctors can bring him back-not me."

Sallie's voice trembled with desperation. "Jessy, he doesn't want a divorce. Please don't say things like this. If he hears you, it'll break his heart. Can't you give him a bit of hope, just for now?"

Jessica went quiet for a long moment before finally replying, "If he dies, then I suppose I'll truly be free."

"You-!"

The ICU was eerily silent.

Sallie fumed, but didn't dare raise her voice.

How could Jessica say such a thing-almost wishing for Timothy's death?

Her heart aching, Sallie glanced over at Timothy, only to suddenly notice the fingers of his right hand twitch.

Her eyes widened. She gasped, "He moved! He moved! Doctor, he moved—!"

Without another thought, Sallie rushed out to find help.

his

old saying that the ring finger is connected to

it really his

chest

harsh words on

she saw tears glistening at the corner of Timothy's

He'd heard her.

He was aware.

why couldn't he

Timothy's attending physician came in with

specialists predicted. There's a real chance he could regain. consciousness.

operation-please, do it. I agree, just... please,

a nurse came to tell Sallie and Jessica they had

walked out, Thurston was

want to go ahead

"Yes, surgery.

the surgical consent form, handing it to the nurse for the

after, Timothy was wheeled from the ICU toward the operating

two nurses.

group followed close

go into the operating room too, to be by Timothy's

impossible. Family members in the OR

about to be taken in, Sallie stopped the nurse,