Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Timothy's condition left a hollow ache in Sallie's chest. She needed comfort just

as much as anyone—someone to look her in the eye and assure her that yes, the surgery would help, that yes, Timothy could wake up if they just went through with

it.

Caring too much about someone or something-made you vulnerable to every twist of fate. The more you cared, the more you oscillated between hope and dread, and the weaker your heart seemed to grow. You needed someone else to lend you strength when your own ran out.

Sallie looked at Jessica with desperate hope, silently pleading for reassurance.

Jessica met Sallie's worried, vacant gaze and understood exactly what she was thinking. She felt the same way-could feel the weight of it pressing down on her. She'd been through her own cycles of hope and disappointment and knew just how much a few words of comfort could mean.

But Jessica didn't dare make any promises either, so she asked, "Is it time for visiting hours yet? I'd like to see him before we talk about anything else."

Sallie checked her watch. "Almost. Ten more minutes. Let's go in together when it's time."

Timothy's family know it was time to

headed to the changing room, while Vince found a

him. "What do

his lips together, thinking. "We should do it. At least it gives us a better chance than just waiting and hoping for

of surprises—risk and

kept quiet, not daring to speak. The atmosphere was too heavy for small talk; everyone's nerves

changed into sterile gowns and entered the ICU. The sight of Timothy

an IV dripped steadily into his arm. His handsome face was swollen,

tears streamed

they first met. From that moment, he'd seemed like a force of nature-steadfast and

now, seeing him like this, so fragile and close to death, shattered