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.

attention snapped to Timothy, just as his ring finger began

that the ring finger

it really his

own chest

those harsh words on

she looked up again, she saw tears glistening at the corner of Timothy's

He'd heard her.

He was aware.

couldn't

Timothy's attending physician came in

examining Timothy, the doctor said, "The prognosis matches what our specialists predicted. There's a real chance he could regain. consciousness. We recommend surgery as

the operation-please, do it. I agree,

and a nurse came to tell

walked out, Thurston

Dad and Grandpa both want to go ahead with

surgery. It's his

handing it to the nurse

long after, Timothy was wheeled from the ICU toward

two nurses.

whole group

could go into the operating room

was simply impossible. Family members in

Timothy was about to be taken in, Sallie stopped the nurse, wanting