Goodbye, Mr. Regret

As soon as the elevator doors slid open, they came face-to-face with the entire Lawson family.

The Lawsons stared, wide-eyed, at the scene before them-Herbert was carrying Jessica on his back.

Phelps blurted out, voice sharp with accusation, “Jessy, I know you're divorcing Timothy, but you're still married for another week. How could you be clinging to another man like this?"

"Exactly! That sort of behavior just isn't right," Naylor chimed in stiffly.

Herbert's temper snapped. "Will you get out of the elevator already? We need to get upstairs! Timothy's gone ahead for emergency treatment, and Jessy almost passed out from the sight of his injury-I'm just helping her. You all know exactly what kind of person she is; she's been part of your family for seven years. What are you even accusing her of?"

Phelps and Naylor immediately faltered, their indignation turning to panic.

"Timothy's hurt? What happened to Timothy?"

"Come on, get inside!" Phelps grabbed Herbert and pulled him into the elevator.

The surgery wing was on the third floor. When the doors opened again, Herbert hurried down the hall with Jessica still on his back.

The Lawsons rushed after them in a panic.

They'd barely arrived at the surgical ward when the doors to the operating room swung open.

here?" a

surged forward, Nola Lawson close behind, anxiety

Timothy's immediate family-here today

immediately fainted dead away. Herbert had just set Jessica down, but she nearly collapsed to the

hospital staff rushed in to carry

to Nola. "What's

"I'm his sister."

you need to

her head. "No, I can't sign that—I'm not brave enough, that's

other family members are unconscious. Only you

pointed at Jessica. "Let her sign-she's

anything happened while her father and grandfather were unconscious or if her

front of Jessica. "Since

the words "Emergency Consent" in bold print. Her vision blurred; her legs nearly gave

really that serious? Is there any hope?"

don't know,"

ret

right now