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

ring finger

really

chest tightened

harsh words on purpose, hoping to

saw tears

He'd heard her.

He was aware.

why couldn't

physician came

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

I agree, just...

came to tell Sallie and

Sallie walked out, Thurston

both want to go ahead with

"Yes, surgery. It's

form, handing it to the nurse for

wheeled from the ICU toward the operating

two nurses.

group

she could go into the operating room too, to

members in the OR could

Sallie stopped the nurse, wanting one last